MILITARY: Civil War Reminiscences of Elijah Corbin HOUCK, Huntingdon County, PA

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                                 REMINISCENCES
                              In the Early Sixties
                                From the Lives of
                                 THREE BROTHERS
                                      BY
                                REV. E. C. HOUCK.

                             With an Introduction by 
                                   HIS NEPHEW
                      PRIVATELY PRINTED, DENVER, COLO., 1920

                                    TO HONOR
                                  THE MEMORY OF
                                   OUR MOTHERS
                           E. C. HOUCK    J. B. LOVELL

"HONOR and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the 
honor lies."

Introduction

  Having no recollection of ever seeing my father, when I became old enough 
to be of some service on the farm, to run errands, help my mother and 
sisters, or pick apples for cider making, of which many barrels were made 
every year, my uncle, Joseph L. Houck, was manager of the "Oakdale Farm," in 
Trough Creek Valley, where we were all born. I have a distinct recollection 
of what happened when I refused to pick apples. Tender twigs were not quite 
so thick on the trees as apples were under them; nevertheless, when Uncle 
was on parade, in his bright uniform as an officer in the local militia, he 
was every inch a hero to me. The spirit of adventure dominated the early 
manhood of my mother's brothers. Thus the lure of the discovery of gold in 
the Fraser River country caused Uncle to abandon farm life and, like many 
others, join an overland party to reach that far-away Eldorado. They would 
all have perished in crossing the Canadian Rockies had not a friendly band 
of Indians supplied them with food.
  Uncle B. F. Houck was really the only father I ever knew. He took me with 
him to Maryland. During 1863 I was the "little laddie" in his home. The 
sight of General Lee's army marching through Maryland to Pennsylvania and an 
all-day's engagement in their retreat, between South Mountain and the 
Potomac River, after the Battle of Gettysburg, with our house between the 
skirmish lines, so thrilled my boyish mind that the picture is more vivid in 
my recollection today than had it happened last year. I heard the canon boom 
and the shells' shrill whistle through the air, the sharp crack of the 
infantry rifle, even the Confederate officer's command, "Skirmishers to the 
right!" in a field adjoining our house. During the battle that hot July day, 
my uncle sat on the upper porch reading "Josephus," unafraid and seemingly 
wholly undisturbed. About sundown the Confederates fell back, and as we were 
crossing a field to a neighbors, a rifle bullet struck in the fence near my 
uncle. He simply drew his handkerchief from his pocket and waived it over 
his head and went on, while I gripped his hand in fear, thinking every 
whistling shell from the Federal battery was sure to hit me. One struck not 
far away, scooping out a lot of mother earth. That memorable summer was a 
wonderful experience for me. I saw the major part of both armies, and when 
Uncle took me back to my mother's home in Pennsylvania, I had several guns 
and a cavalry sabre that I had found on the battlefield. He asked my 
mother's consent to take me with him into the service, but both of my 
brothers were then in the army, so she refused absolutely to give up her 
baby boy, the only one left to com.
  The wanderlust in my Uncle E. C. Houck carried him into the then wild and 
woolly west, too early in my life for me to have known him in my childhood, 
as I did his two older brothers, but now I can say of him, as I do in loving 
memory of them, these three brothers, uncles of mine, were noble-minded, 
generous hearted men conscientious in all of their actions and thus worthy 
brothers of the one woman I have most loved in all the world, my mother, 
whose wise counsel, thought and tender love for her children was as a "deep 
hidden fountain, sealed and kept secret, that flowed when every other spring 
was dry."
  The following account, a condensed statement of facts of the recovery of 
Captain Houck's body, and the brief sketch of the youngest brother's 
experience in the Civil War, serving under the Confederate Flag, were 
written at my request, and, after Uncle had passed the fourscore period in 
his life. To honor the memory of my mother; and for the information of the 
descendants of these brothers and their relatives I am having these sketches 
privately printed, adding thereto, with the approval of my uncle, a personal 
sketch taken from the "History of Colorado."
  JESSE BARTON LOVELL.
  Denver, Colorado, December, 1919.

Foreword

This brief, imperfect gathering up of war incidents more than half a century 
after their occurrence has been undertaken at the earnest request of my 
highly esteemed nephew, J. Barton Lovell. Just why he wants it, or what 
disposition he will make of it, has not been very clearly revealed to me.
Should these random incidents ever appear in print and be read by some at 
least who may be capable of making correct criticism, the writer asks pardon 
for the many errors that evidently are manifest. If General Sherman's 
definition of war is correct, all will agree that there cannot be great 
pleasure in writing or talking upon war incidents.
  E. C. HOUCK.

  During part of the John Brown excitement in Kansas, the years 1857 and 
1858, I was a resident of Fairbault, Minnesota, a new town sixty miles south 
of St. Paul. Fairbault was the county seat of Rice county.
Part of the time I was contractor and builder, other part engaged in the 
hardware business. Most of the American settlers were New England people, 
some very radical abolitionists.
  I, being one of the early settlers, naturally had some part in local 
politics. Owing to the Kansas Brown condition there were some harsh and 
unreasonable utterances. Occasionally a claim owner or ranchman would be in 
town and of course have his say. A Mr. Putman became very much offended at 
me and threatened to shoot me. Not being seriously alarmed at his threat I 
did not avoid him. Whether he was only bluffing, or changed his mind, and 
also his plans, I never knew, but was of course glad to escape unhurt.
  Owing to the great financial crash in the latter part of 1857, I, with 
many others in the Northwest, became bankrupt, and worked again at 
carpentering, and steamboated on the Mississippi River some. In the fall of 
1860, in company with my former partner in the hardware business, bought and 
fitted up a large flat boat at Cairo, Illinois; loaded it with western 
produce and ran it as far as Vicksburg, Mississippi. Sold some of the 
produce at various points between Memphis, Tennessee, and Vicksburg, 
Mississippi, but had perhaps one third of our load when we landed at 
Vicksburg. My partner, Mr. C. T. Hinde, and the crew, consisting of four men 
besides ourselves, returned north. I remained in Vicksburg and continued in 
the produce trade, my partner shipping me other lots of produce by 
steamboat.
  Naturally, after my experience in Minnesota and being descended from 
Virginia and Maryland people, it was easy to pass from a neutral to a 
Southern sympathizer, and to aid me in this transition, the Federal 
Government confiscated 1,000 barrels of flour in transit.
  Being unable to get further supplies from the northwest, I closed out at 
Vicksburg. I was much perplexed in mind and heart and finally went to New 
Orleans undetermined what to do. By this time war preparations were active. 
I had written to my dear mother some time prior to my going to New Orleans 
that I proposed going there and that I was greatly troubled, not really 
desiring to go into either the North or South army and thought something of 
going to South America, and asked Mother to write me at New Orleans and tell 
me what she thought about it. While in New Orleans I received Mother's 
letter, the substance of which was: "You are an American, so do not leave 
your country; and if you must take up arms, choose that which seems to you 
to be the least of two evils."
  I returned to Vicksburg, went to Yazoo City and enlisted in Company K of 
the Wirt Adams Regiment of Cavalry. Our company marched from Yazoo City to 
Vicksburg, a distance of some thirty miles; there took steamer to Memphis, 
Tennessee, where we were encamped at the fair grounds for several weeks. 
Here we did some picket duty. Our next move was by slow marches to Bowling 
Green, Kentucky, where we wintered. Here the regiment organization was 
completed by the addition of companies from Louisiana, Alabama and 
Mississippi. Colonel Wirt Adams was a Mississippian but was also a large 
plantation owner and cotton grower in Louisiana. Lieutenant Colonel Robert 
Wood direct from the regular U. S. Army, as was also Major Hagy of Alabama.
  Our camp was near Bowling Green. We had comfortable new tents and fairly 
good rations, splendid forage for our horses. Our work there was almost 
exclusively drilling, chiefly by Colonel Wood and Major Hagy, both experts 
in every phase of Cavalry service. Here we did much scouting and picket 
duty, both of which was largely along the line of drill service. Only once 
while in Kentucky we had a little scrap with Northern soldiers near "Mammoth 
Cave." I volunteered for any and every service that would enable me to get 
away from camp and even the appearance of doing something. Then, too, when 
out of camp on duty we got our "eats" from the farm houses of Kentucky, 
which was a great improvement on our camp fare. Hot biscuits and fried 
chicken pleased at least two of the human senses.
  My first effort at cooking in camp was first a failure and second a 
success. I burned the entire ration of rice for a mess of twelve men and the 
other articles of food were almost ruined. That of course constituted the 
failure. Thereafter I was excused from cooking, which was to me a great 
relief and so a success.
  A great surprise. One day when in Bowling Green, whom should I meet up 
with but Adam Clarkson, of Cassville, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania: In 
our brief interview I learned he was on General Hardie's staff and was also 
camped not far from Bowling Green.
  Some time in March we received orders to break camp and move. All we 
private soldiers knew as to where we were going or the object of our going, 
would not fill many pages of even a small book. It proved to be a long and 
tiresome march and there was little of interest to note on the long march 
from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Corinth, Mississippi.

"Shiloh Battle."

  On Sunday morning, April 6, 1862, we found ourselves in the then famous 
battle of "Shiloh," which began about 6:00 a. m. Sunday and continued nearly 
three days. About 3:00 p. m. Sunday our commanding General, Albert Sidney 
Johnson, was killed. General Beauregard was next in command. Up to the time 
General Johnson fell military experts said the three-mile battle line was 
kept in hand almost as complete as an army on dress parade.

A Personal Incident.

  About 2:00 p. m. Sunday, our squadron was ordered to take shelter in a 
slight ravine or hollow, awaiting orders. For a short time we remained 
mounted. Whilst sitting in my saddle I noticed a large dogwood blossom 
immediately in front of my breast. About that time we had orders to 
dismount. We sat down upon the ground, holding our bridle reins in our 
hands, listening to the whistle of bullets. I looked up to see the blossom 
drop at my feet. I picked it up and found the stem had been cut by a bullet. 
What the world calls an accidental escape, but now, over half a century 
after the incident, I thank Him, with whom there are no accidents, that the 
order to dismount came before that bullet came and severed the tender 
blossom stem instead of lodging in or passing through my body.
  It was reported that about the time General Johnston was killed General U. 
S. Grant took personal command of the Union forces. So with the Confederate 
"loss" and the Union "gain" it was not strange that conditions materially 
changed.

A Pathetic Incident.

  Sunday night, while on picket duty I found on my beat a Union soldier 
almost dead. It was very dark. I lighted a match and discovered a boy, 
surely yet in his 'teens; his lips were moving. I stopped and listened. He 
was feebly uttering, "Mother'! Mother!" How I wished then and often have 
since, I could have secured his mother's address and written her of her dear 
boy's last words. When relieved about midnight, I crept into a tent to get 
an hour's rest and found others had preceded me. To one I was crowding, I 
said: "Who am I intruding upon?" He answered: "General Breckenridge." I 
apologized and was about to look for other quarters when the General very 
kindly told me to remain and try and find room to lie down.
  Monday night my bed was the ground without blanket under or over me, my 
head pillowed on a small log of wood. When I awoke in the morning my body 
was in a pool of water four inches deep. It had rained nearly all night, but 
not hard enough to arouse me from slumber.
All day Tuesday the battle went against us and Tuesday night we fell back to 
Corinth. At one time during the night retreat, I came in contact with 
Captain Adam Clarkson of Cassville again. It was too dark to see or 
recognize anyone, but his voice was the same as of yore. We had a few words 
about the loss of the battle and especially of our great general, A. S. 
Johnson.
  I find it impossible, after more than half a century has come and gone, to 
recall dates or places for the rest of the war Our regiment was almost 
constantly on the move over territory extending from east Louisiana to 
Tennessee and Alabama, most of the time in Mississippi.
Our regiment was seldom in camp except when men and horses were much in need 
of rest. For a few months I was assistant quartermaster, not from choice, 
but in obedience to orders and because our quartermaster thought my business 
experience fitted me for the work.
  Soon after this our Company K was so largely recruited that it was decided 
to organize Company A and to my surprise I was unanimously elected second 
lieutenant of the new company. The first lieutenant of Company A was a 
Pennsylvanian but had lived in Mississippi a number of years. There were 
eight Pennsylvanians in the two companies. Owing to my good health and 
consequent activity I used up nine horses during the four years of service.
  After becoming a commissioned officer I had a negro man servant loaned to 
me by his owner. He was a young fellow and very unreliable, dishonest and 
lazy. On one occasion I had to punish him, but before doing so gave him a 
friendly talk, for which he afterwards thanked me, but did not express any 
gratitude for the whipping. Later, I had a man about forty years old, whose 
owner begged me to take because he seemed to be almost unmanageable. The man 
was lectured at the very start and told that the very first act of 
insubordination would be severely dealt with, but as long as he was obedient 
he should have fair treatment. He proved to be an excellent servant and 
remained with me until the war closed, and I took him at his own request 
with me from Alabama to his old master's home in Mississippi.
  While on duty at Port Gibson, Mississippi, with about twenty men, we were 
surprised, our pickets being driven in by a squadron of Union cavalry. After 
a brief skirmish with the advance guard, retreat seemed to be in order. I 
succeeded, however, in getting away without the loss of a man, horse or any 
of our effects. The greatly alarmed citizens of the town pronounced it a 
fairly well managed retreat.
  I think it was soon after this event that a very peculiar and sad 
experience was mine. One morning, I awoke in great distress of mind. My 
messmates seemed alarmed and noticing my unusual reticence and dejection 
begged me to have the doctor. I did not know what was the matter but knew a 
doctor could not even diagnose the case. That evening there was a social 
gathering near the camp to which a number of us were invited. When the time 
came to go to the party my friends insisted on my going; that the pleasant 
affair would dispel the gloom. Some time later I started to the party, but 
when at the home of Dr. Wade I dismounted from my horse and went in the 
house. The doctor, his wife and sister were in the room and they actually 
seemed alarmed. After telling them of my strange and painful experience and 
that it seemed to me absolutely wrong for me to attempt to participate in 
the pleasures of the party, they all urged me to go and that possibly it 
would be the means of escape from my trouble.
  On my arrival at the social gathering, friends began to inquire what was 
the matter and really my presence seemed to cast a gloom over the entire 
company. In a few moments conditions grew worse instead of better. Excusing 
myself to the family, who had kindly given me the invitation to the party, I 
withdrew and actually ran my horse at full speed back to camp. It was 
several days before normal conditions returned.
  I made a note of the date and one evening about three months later, when 
we were going into camp somewhere in Alabama, one of the men handed me a 
letter, the envelope nearly worn off and much soiled. It was getting dark, 
but by the light of the fire I began to read. The letter was from my brother 
Joseph and advised me that our brother Benjamin had been killed in battle on 
the morning of a certain date. I stopped reading at that point, referred to 
my memorandum and found it was the very morning of the day of my sad 
experience in the Mississippi camp. Science, so-called, says this kind of 
experience is psychological. Be that as it may, it is surely unforgettable.
  At the second battle of Corinth, General Maury in command, I had charge of 
his couriers, carrying orders from General I Maury to the other generals, 
colonels, etc., in the front line of battle. About 3:00 p. m. we had driven 
the Union forces from their front lines some two miles from the town of 
Corinth and thought we were about to secure a complete victory, when from 
their temporary trenches they opened upon us a terrific fire from field 
artillery and infantry. At that time I was within two hundred yards of their 
infantry. There were several buildings near me, upon the walls and roofs of 
which grapeshot and bullets rattled like hail. All around me missiles of 
death were whistling. My horse refused to move, although urged by word and 
spur and for a moment it seemed to me the horse was dead but had not yet 
fallen, but to my surprise and great relief he started in bounds and leaps; 
not running but actually jumping. Our lines were completely broken and some 
of the men badly demoralized. That night about ten o'clock General Maury 
sent an order for me to report to him. He put me in possession of important 
papers to be delivered at a point on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, where 
army supplies were stored; and where his wife and two children were at that 
time. My orders were to ride alone and slowly, stopping occasionally to 
listen. About 6:00 a. m. my horse began to show signs of failure. I 
dismounted and led the horse slowly until a house and little barn were 
discovered. In the barn lot was a loose horse. No person was then in sight. 
I proceeded to the lot, caught the horse and was changing saddle, etc., when 
the owner of the horse came out and asked me what I proposed doing and why. 
He filed his objections and started to the house. Of course his object was 
to secure his gun. I ordered him to come back and presented my authority, 
which was a good-sized and well-loaded Colt's revolver, and he came back. He 
listened respectfully to my explanation and assurance that in a few days I 
would return his horse and get my own, which I did.
  In accordance with my instructions from General Maury, I superintended the 
shipment of the army supplies to a point further south; also assisted Mrs. 
Maury and her children in their removal, after which I returned to my 
command.
  One of the most trying experiences that fell to my lot during four years 
of service was feeling for an ambuscade. Feeling, because it was about three 
o'clock in the morning and very dark. We had been moving slowly and 
cautiously for some time and under strict orders not to speak aloud. When we 
halted a whispered order came to me to dismount and "feel" my way through a 
dense thicket on the right side of the road. Of course the order was 
promptly obeyed, but with more reluctance and fear than is easily described. 
If the enemy had been there my chance of escape would have been almost 
hopeless. With the exception of some slight thorn scratches there was no 
damage sustained.
  When General Grant was fighting his way to the rear of Vicksburg, what was 
called the Black River Battle began in the morning and the cavalry, as 
usual, had part in the beginning and about 9:00 a.m. a shell from the 
enemy's field artillery struck the ground seemingly almost under my horse. 
The first thing very clearly outlined was myself feeling over my body trying 
to determine whether I was all there. Next discovery was my saddle and 
fixtures partly covered with dirt and leaves, only a few feet from me, but 
no horse in sight. So the saddle was shouldered and a start on foot 
commenced. After perhaps ten minutes' walk a fellow soldier was met leading 
my horse which was also unhurt. Some two hours later Colonel Adams expressed 
great surprise at seeing me alive, saying I was reported killed soon after 
the engagement began. It was surely strange that neither horse nor rider 
were injured.
  It was soon after this battle that General Sherman marched a whole army 
division to Meridian, Mississippi, and our regiment skirmished with 
Sherman's advance guard from Jackson to Meridian, and when Sherman returned 
we were close upon his rear. General Sherman said we were the best advance 
and rear guard that he ever had.
  Some time during the summer of '63, we had quite a scrap with General 
Elliot's River Brigade, composed of several transports and two or three 
small gunboats. This brigade operated on and along the Mississippi River. 
They would send a regiment out to confiscate cotton, corn or any other 
useful articles. On this occasion they were out as far as "Cole's 
Crossroads," some eight miles from the river. We met them at the Crossroads. 
I happened to be in charge of our advance guard and of course brought on a 
little fight, in the very start of which my horse was shot but not seriously 
hurt. Later in the action I captured a horse, man and excellent outfit, 
including an excellent Colt's revolver. Only nine years ago, but forty-six 
years after the occurrence, I met the man in Hastings, Nebraska, who was the 
Union lieutenant in command of the advance guard, who told me that one of 
his men was killed in the beginning of the "Crossroads" skirmish. This Union 
lieutenant, like myself, became a Baptist minister. He was then living some 
ten miles south of Hastings, Nebraska, where I spent a Sunday in his 
pleasant home. Since then he and his good wife have both gone to be with our 
Lord, which "is far better."
  Mention has been made concerning good health during my army life so it may 
not be amiss to state that one summer during the war typhoid fever came my 
way. So severe was the attack that two doctors pronounced my case hopeless, 
and yet our two surgeons did all for me their meager facilities at hand made 
possible. Being incapable of duty, I was allowed to see more comfortable 
quarters in a near-by farmhouse, where much kindness and care was received. 
Yet the fever grew rapidly so that I was started to the hospital, some fifty 
miles from where I was, at a place called Enterprise on the Mobil and Ohio 
Railroad. About an hour after starting on the train I was approached by a 
man I had met in Minnesota in 1857 and again in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 
1861. This friend surely came in time of need, succeeded in getting me off 
the train at the first stop, secreted me in the rear of an old warehouse 
until the train left, then hired a conveyance and transported me across 
country to a railroad between Jackson and Meridian, Miss.; put me on a train 
for Jackson, then disappeared as suddenly and quietly as he had come. In our 
trip across country in a buggy this man (who was at the time called a bounty 
jumper) had invited me to go to his home which was then n Yazoo City. This 
meant another hundred miles by railroad and twenty miles by stage. On 
arriving at Jackson late in the afternoon, I managed some way to get to the 
Mississippi Central Railroad station and some time in the night arrived at 
Vaughn's Station on the Mississippi Central Railroad and about 4 p. m. took 
stage for Yazoo City.
  Owing to my feeble condition, like the impotent man at the pool of healing 
waters, having no one to help me I failed to secure an inside seat in the 
coach and was compelled to ride on top among the luggage. When we arrived at 
Yazoo City and I reached the home of my friend, my physical condition was 
such that I fell prostrate upon the porch. The kind lady of the house and 
her mother helped me into the room where I was shut in for seven weeks. All 
this travel of over two hundred miles by railroad, buggy and stagecoach was 
very soon after two able physicians said I would not live but a few days. 
There happened to be a young doctor there who had just returned from 
temporary army service who was called to see and treat me. I told him about 
what had been said and done and he said, "Why do you call me after two 
eminent doctors turned you out to die?" My answer was, "Doctor, I am not 
ready to die, don't want to die, nor don't propose to die if I can help it." 
He said, "I admire your pluck, and it will help us both."
  All the nursing I had during my illness was a daily visit from the doctor 
and a half hour's service twice a day from a colored barber. About three 
times each day the kind lady of the house would come to the door and ask me 
if I could think of anything that I could eat. From seven in the evening 
until seven in the morning, twelve hours, I would see no one. Only once 
during my long siege of typhoid fever did I become delirious and then only 
for a short time. It was about midnight and when normal conditions returned 
I was walking across the room with a small pistol in each hand. These I 
promptly replaced on the mantel shelf and returned to my bed. It seemed like 
a dream and I thought a man was trying to enter the room through a window.
  A few weeks after leaving my room I returned to the command and resumed 
service. I was not even reprimanded for my apparent unsoldierly conduct.
  When the news of President Lincoln' assassination reached us we were in 
Alabama. Colonel Adams had been promoted to brigadier general. He called us 
together and in a very tender and informal address conveyed the sad news to 
his command. Among other things, he said, "This is the greatest disaster 
that the South has sustained since the war began."
  We had in our Company K, when we began and when we quit, a young man from 
Wisconsin whose name was and I think is ,for my impression is, he is yet 
among the few that are still living, B. B. Paddock. He was a clean, moral, 
brave young man. He carried his Bible in the inside breast pocket (which was 
on one occasion the means of saving his life). A bullet lodged in the Bible, 
that protected the region of his heart. Paddock was not the slave of immoral 
or useless habits in word or act. It was soon discovered when we came to the 
time and place of "sure enough" war, that he was more than ordinarily 
efficient in service and was very properly promoted finally to first 
sergeant and was frequently placed in charge of scouting squads and 
invariably made good and so merited and secured the confidence of officers 
and men of the regiment. One of what we called "Yankee" gunboats ventured 
some distance up the Yazoo River on a bright Sunday morning. Two squadrons 
of our regiment happened to be in that vicinity under command of Colonel 
"Bob" Woods, who sent young Paddock with three men to "spy out," not the lay 
of the land, but the lay of the boat which was at the time anchored in the 
middle of the narrow deep river. Paddock's report to Colonel Wood was such 
that the young sergeant was given two pieces of field artillery and a dozen 
cavalrymen and in short time all returned safely, having virtually 
demolished the little gunboat. Evidently the officers of the boat were over-
confident of their safety and possibly asleep. We supposed they made their 
escape into the woods. 
  Soon after the close of the war Paddock married an excellent young lady 
whose home was near Lafayette, Mississippi. They acted in harmony with 
Horace Greeley's advise, "went west,' located in the city of Fort Worth, 
Texas, and I think are living there now. Some fourteen years ago I had some 
correspondence with Mr. Paddock and since then Mr. Calvin Green, of 
Lewistown, Pennsylvania, met and transacted some business with Mr. Paddock. 
Mr. Green found him able, popular and prosperous. I like to bear testimony 
to the truth of the old adage, "Honesty is the best policy," and that true 
manhood, young or old, wins out in the game of life, whether in times of war 
or peace.
  When the news of Lee's surrender reached us we were in Alabama and whilst 
it was not a great surprise, it caused in-expressible depression. On May 5, 
1865, our company received it's parole and in groups of half a dozen and 
less those who had homes to go to quietly moved off. A fellow soldier whose 
home was near Natchez, Mississippi, invited me to go with him. The 
invitation was accepted and after a few days I went to visit some families 
near Port Gibson, To say the outlook was discouraging but feebly expresses 
the situation.

Recovery of Captain Houck's Body

  At the outbreak of the Civil War in the beginning of the sixties, J. L. 
Houck was in California. His twin brother, B. F. Houck, was a resident of 
Washington County, Maryland. Their youngest brother, E. C. Houck, was in 
business in Vicksburg, Mississippi. About the beginning of the second year 
of the war, J. L. returned to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where Mother 
Houck and two of her daughters then lived. At about the close of the second 
year of the war B. F. Houck recruited Company H of the First Maryland 
Cavalry Regiment. Not long after he entered the service he was brevetted to 
the office of major. When J. H. returned from California he very naturally 
and very properly first of all visited the dear mother. In less than a week 
after his arrival at Mother's home, he was impressed with the idea that he 
must go on to Virginia and see his twin brother. Mother insisted on J. L. 
remaining with her at least a week longer as she was hearing from B. F. 
frequently by letter and very recently had heard favorably from him. But J. 
L. said he knew not why, but felt he must go at once. On this arrival at 
Washington, D. C., he applied promptly at the office of the proper official 
for the necessary permission to go on to the army to visit his brother. 
Imagine, if you can, his mental and emotional condition when informed that 
Brevet Major B. F. Houck had been killed in action two days prior to that 
date (on August 22, 1864, while leading a charge) and that the Federal 
troops had been defeated, leaving that section in possession of the 
Confederates. After very brief reflection, J. L. prevailed upon the officer 
to give him a pass as far as the lines of the Federal command. This request 
was reluctantly granted. At the Federal line he had much difficulty in 
persuading the officer in command of the pickets to allow him to pass on in 
the direction of the Confederates, but after a full statement of the 
situation he was allowed to proceed at his own risk, which he was assured 
was a great one. He did not go very far until he was halted by the 
Confederate picket. He, of course, was taken to the picket officer in 
command, where he was closely examined and where he rehearsed fully the 
cause of his being there and the great desire he had to obtain the body of 
his brother. He was then sent with a close guard to the general in command 
of that department, where he underwent another rigid examination and where a 
very clear and pathetic plea was made for permission to make an effort to 
secure his twin brother's body. But the general still declined to give the 
permit. Then J. H. told the general that the condition was not an ordinary 
one, because his youngest brother was, and had been from the start, in the 
Confederate army and for that reason he claimed what in other circumstances 
would be an unreasonable and unusual privilege. The general said the story 
was both interesting and pathetic and he believed true, and that he would 
not only grant the request, but send a non-commissioned officer and four men 
to assist in securing the body, but also to aid in conveying the body to the 
Federal lines.
  In a short time J. L., with the escort of Confederate soldiers, was off to 
the locality where the little battle was fought. By the aid of some of the 
citizens the grave and body were soon found, the body hastily prepared for 
removal and conveyed by the aid of the Confederate soldiers to the Federal 
line, where necessary help was given by the Federal authorities to convey 
the body to Washington, D. C., where further and better preparation was made 
and from there the twin brothers, one living and the other dead, were 
conveyed to the sadly bereaved mother and sisters at Shirleysburg, Penn.
  In due time the body of the once brave and noble Brevet Major, B. F. Houck 
was taken to the old Trough Creek Cemetery, not far from Cassville, and laid 
to await the sound, not of the war bugle, but of the call of God to those 
who sleep in Jesus and shall have part in the first resurrection.
  Some seven years later the body of the dear, faithful, sainted mother was 
laid beside her soldier son's body. The body of the good twin brother, J. 
L., who virtually risked his own life to secure his brother's body, is 
resting in the soil of that comparatively new but historic state of Kansas. 
In physical life and death the twin brothers were and are separated, but by 
the grace of God they were both led into such relation to Jesus Christ that 
they were able to claim the promise that who there we wake or sleep we shall 
live together with the Lord.

  The following sketch is taken from the "History of Colorado," volume IV, 
page 616, published by the S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, and 
dedicated to the "Pioneers of Colorado."

JESSE BARTON LOVELL

  To the public Jesse Barton Lovell is known as a successful mining and real 
estate man, conducting business in the Arapahoe Building, in Denver. To his 
friends he is known as a most genial and cultured gentleman, widely read, 
popular in club circles, and with a record for amateur hunting and fishing. 
Having no recollection whatever of his father, he has ever attributed much 
of his success to the early advice and Christian training of his mother, for 
he was fortunate in his early home surroundings. A native of Huntingdon 
County, Pennsylvania, he is a son of Amon Lovell, who was born in Washington 
County, Maryland, December 19, 1802, and a member of an old Maryland family, 
believed to have been founded in America by three brothers. His ancestral 
line is traced back directly to Zebulon Lovell, who came to the New World 
prior to the Revolutionary War and it is believed that he took part in the 
struggle for American independence. Another of the three brothers was the 
first mayor of Boston, and sympathizing with the Crown at the outbreak of 
the Revolutionary War, he escaped to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and died there. 
His son, James Lovell, born in 1737, was a graduate of Harvard University 
and was a member of the Continental Congress from 1776 to 1782, and held 
other prominent offices under the government, and his son was a prominent 
soldier in the Revolutionary War and died in the South.
  The Lovell family has figured prominently in New England and in the South 
from Colonial days. It was one of the members of this family that 
established the first Latin School in Boston. There have been two distinct 
characteristics in the Lovell family, a leaning toward education and a 
leaning toward military life. Representatives of the name have participated 
in all the principal wars in which the country has been involved. Mansfield 
Lovell, born in 1822, was general in the Civil War; graduating at West Point 
he served in Texas and Mexico, and in 1861 entered the Confederate service, 
and was commissioned major general. John Q. Lovell served in the Navy and 
was retired as an admiral. Mr. Lovell of this review, while too young to 
have entered the service during the Civil War, his older brothers, Albert 
Galletin and K. Allen, left college in 1862, and enlisted in the 122nd 
Pennsylvania Regiment; Two of his uncles, his mother's brothers, were also 
in the Civil War, one an officer in the Confederate service and the other 
Captain of the First Maryland Cavalry, and was killed n 1864 while leading 
his men in a charge near Charlestown, West Virginia. Zachariah Lovell, his 
grandfather, was born near Baltimore, Maryland, August 20, 1765, and married 
Ruth Plowman. Their only child was Amon Lovell. The family, shortly after 
his birth, removed from Maryland to Pennsylvania and there resided, giving 
attention to the cultivation of three hundred acres of a five-hundred-acre 
farm, while their son was being educated and grew into manhood. He was a man 
of fine physique, about six feet in height, and weighed nearly two hundred 
pounds. He was not a very large man but a very well proportioned man, broad-
shouldered and erect, "straight as an Indian," and had great physical 
strength as well as being quick of action. Like all pioneer settlers of 
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, he was a trained rifle-shot. Here he 
married and resided to the time of his death, which occurred when he was but 
forty-eight years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Wealthy Houck, was 
born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, belonging to one of the old and 
prominent families of that State, and was of English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lovell became the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters.
  Jesse Barton Lovell, the youngest of the family, was educated in the 
public schools of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and completed his 
business education in Eastman's National Business College of Poughkeepsie, 
New York, while his literary course was completed in an academy in 
Huntingdon County. His early childhood was spent upon Oakdale Farm, where 
all the children were born. After the home farm had been sold, he started 
out to earn his own living, working during the summer and attending school 
during the winter. His first employment was on a farm, where he received his 
board and clothing in compensation for his labor. A neighboring farmer, 
seeing that he was a good, hard-working and honest boy, took him away from 
his first employer and paid him the sum of four dollars per month in 
addition to his board and clothing. In this humble way Mr. Lovell started 
out, but being of an ambitious nature he constantly sought opportunities for 
advancement, while each forward step in his career gave him a broader view 
of life. While at college in Poughkeepsie, New York.. he was offered a 
position in a publishing house in Philadelphia. This offer he accepted after 
his graduation. During a continuous service of fourteen years he advanced 
from the position of assistant bookkeeper until he became the business 
manager, but the service had been too exacting, resulting in nervous 
prostration, obliging him to seek a dry climate. Broken in health, though 
still optimistic, on the 15th of August, 1881, he arrived in Denver, with 
many letters of introduction to prominent people, including U. S. Senator 
Hill. He was an utter stranger here, without friends or relatives, but he 
possessed qualities which would win success anywhere. A modern philosopher 
has said, "Success does not depend upon a map, but upon a time-table"; in 
other words, locality does not figure in the attainment of advancement, but 
the wise use which one makes of every hour, and this fact Mr. Lovell early 
came to realize. He spent his time from August, 1881, until January, 1882, 
the first months after his arrival in Colorado, in riding over the plains in 
quest of health, which he found owing to the beneficial influence of the 
climate of this State. He was later requested by the White Quail Mining & 
Smelting Company in Summit County, Colorado, to investigate difficulties in 
their management, and after a short period of investigation and correction 
of conditions he was appointed general manager for the company, in which 
position he continued for six years, when the property was sold. He then 
took up mining on his own account and has since acquired and jointly 
operated some valuable mining property. He was at one time president of the 
Broadway Investment Company, a Denver corporation, holding a large suburban 
addition to Denver, but which has since been mostly sold. It was this 
company that built the Cherrylin car line, which became so popular and 
widely known because of the horse riding back on the car he had drawn to the 
end of the line, up-grade from Englewood, where connection was made with the 
Denver Tramway cars.
  In his real estate activities he has had large experience and the wise 
direction of his efforts has brought substantial results. His personal 
investments in Denver realty have at all times had careful attention and 
been wisely directed.
  Mr. Lovell holds membership in the Denver Athletic Club with which he has 
been identified for twenty-seven years, or since February, 1891. He was 
president of the Interlachen Golf Club, of which he is a life member, and he 
is a member of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Club, of which he 
was formerly president. He is also a member of the First Baptist Church.
  In review of his career one sees Jesse B. Lovell starting out to provide 
for his own support, a poor boy working as a farm hand. He has made his way 
through his own efforts.

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Notes:

The above is a transcribed copy of a privately printed book, written in 
1919, by my 2nd great-grand uncle, Rev. Elijah Corbin Houck, youngest 
brother of my Great-great grandmother, Diana Houck Clark.

Although a Pennsylvanian, Elijah was an officer for the Confederacy during 
the Civil War, while his brother Benjamin was an officer for the Union army. 
The photocopy of the front of the book that I received was illegible, 
however handwritten notes on it are:

Civil War Incidents
From the Lives of Three Brothers
And their
Nephew

Then and Now
United We Stand - Divided We Fall

so I must assume this is what the cover said.

This then is one of the many families, with brothers literally fighting on 
opposite sides in the rebellion.

There are several very poignant tales contained in this narrative, including 
the story of how one twin Houck brother risked his life to recover the body 
of his twin from across enemy lines, and in doing so received the 
cooperation of both the Federal and Confederate armies.

Elijah Corbin Houck lived until 1923, dying at the age of 90.  In a letter 
written by him, he states that he had traveled to 35 states in his lifetime. 
He seems to have been an adventurer at heart.   His last years were spent 
back in his home area of Huntingdon County, PA.

The last paragraphs in this book, a biography of E.C.'s nephew, Jesse Barton 
Lovell, although originally from another source, were reprinted in this 
book.

The copy of this book was graciously provided to me by the grandchildren of 
Emerson Bruce Clark, my great grand uncle, who was the nephew of Elijah 
Corbin Houck, and is here presented with their permission.

Lana Clark
August 12, 2006