John Elisha Phelps (1839 - 1921)

Born 6 Apr 1839 in Springfield, Greene, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Died 17 Sep 1921 at age 82 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

John E. Phelps was born on April 6, 1839 in Springfield, Missouri. He was the son of John S. Phelps and Mary Whitney.^[1]

• "... he received a local education, and later was a wholesale grocer and cattle trader."^[2]

Civil War

Union Scout

Colonel John Phelps served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Jun 11, 1862
Mustered out: Aug 20, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. B, 3rd U.S. Cavalry Regt.; 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regt.

In spring 1861, a 22-year-old John E. Phelps volunteered "as a Union Scout and guide in South Western Missouri and Northern Arkansas." Despite "furnishing his own horse, accoutrements, arms and rations", he served without any government pay.^[3]

"He was a secret agent of General Nathaniel Lyon" for the duration of Lyon's campaign in southwestern Missouri, until the general's death on August 10, 1861 at the Battle of Wilson Creek.^[3]

• "On leaving Springfield for Wilson Creek, during the night before the battle, General Lyon ordered young Phelps to remain at Springfield. There he remained until morning but when he heard the sound of cannon showing the fight was on, he galloped to the front taking with him a colored servant, a farm hand and a home guard, all well mounted but unarmed except himself. Striking the advance of Price’s Army upon the wire road, he captured the first two pickets and rushing upon the next pickets captured one of them and compelled the picket guard, consisting of Lt. J. D. Kelly and six men of Range’s [James S. Rains] Confederates to surrender. He armed his little squad with the weapons of the prisoners and guarded them to the rear of the retreating Union Army. Here he compelled the prisoners to dismount and placed from one to three wounded Union soldiers upon each captured horse thus enabling them to escape. The prisoners themselves were marched to Springfield and turned over to Provost Marshal Boyd. He had thus, unaided by anyone with arms captured ten Confederates with their horses and arms, taking from Lt. Kelly alone, two revolvers, a double barrelled shotgun and sabre."^[3]

From AnceStory Archives:^[4]

Early on the morning of the battle, John E. Phelps ... armed with a Maynard rifle and a Colt's dragoon revolver, set out from his father's house, south of town, for the fight. Accompanying him was one of his father's slaves, a negro man named George, another negro, Amos, belonging to Maj. Dorn, of the Southern army, and Pleasant Hall and Robert Russell, two young men, citizens of the county. Phelps was the leader. Taking the Fayetteville road, the party encountered Lieut. Morton, of the 2d Kansas.

The squad, now numbering six, hurried along, as the firing began, and pretty soon encountered a picket of two men. Leaving the others to attract their attention, Phelps contrived to make his way to the rear of these pickets, and coming upon them suddenly, leveled his "Maynard" and soon had them prisoners. The party then rode on. and soon encountered another picket. Employing the same tactics as those used at the former post, Phelps succeeded in capturing a mounted arsenal in the person of a State Guard lieutenant of McBride's division, named Kelly, who had three or four revolvers, a doublebarreled shot gun, and a heavy dragoon saber.

Buckling on the saber himself, Phelps rode up near the battlefield and encountering a party of Confederates induced a negro, belonging to an officer of the Louisiana regiment, to ride out to him, when forcing the negro to follow, and keeping him between the enemy and himself, Phelps retired in good order! Nearer still to the battlefield, and at Ray's house, a good-sized squad, was encountered in the house and taken in. Here the correspondent of the New York Tribune, one Barnes, who had been with Lyon, came up. To his paper, Barnes wrote: —

* I now determined to cross the creek, and see if I could find Col. Sigel, as a report reached us that he was entirely cut to pieces. • • * I had not proceeded far on the eastern side of the creek, when I met the son of Hon. John S. Phelps, who had left town upon hearing the cannonading, with but a few troops, and, not, discerning the exact positions of the two armies, had busied himself taking prisoners on the Fayetteville road and west of it. When I met him he had captured near a dozen, including a negro belonging to an officer in a Louisiana regiment. Placing them upon the trail for our guards and in charge of a Kansas officer, Phelps and myself proceeded, but found it unsafe to attempt to cross the Fayetteville road, and, seeing the army retreating, we joined them and returned to the city.

• "He continued to act as scout and guide performing much dangerous service ... He was in the advance in the movements of the Army of the Frontier under Gen. S. R. Curtis and on February 17, 1862, by order of Gen. Curtis was detailed as acting volunteer aid upon the staff of General E. A. Carr, then in command of a division."^[3]
• March 7–8, 1862: "Near the close of the Pea Ridge Battle he was wounded in the leg compelling him to return home."^[3]

3rd U.S. Cavalry

On June 11, 1862, John E. Phelps was appointed Second Lieutenant of Company B of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry Regiment^[5][6][7] and was assigned to staff duty under Brigadier General Eugene Asa Carr.^[3]

• "Up to this time he had served without commission or pay from the government."^[3]
• "He reported to Gen. Carr at Helena, Arkansas, in July 1862, and served on staff duty until June 1863. Then, completely worn out with the hardships and his restless activity in the Vicksburg campaign, and prostrated with the malaria of the southern swamps, he was ordered to Missouri as the only chance to save his life, though even then he made a personal appeal to Gen. U.S. Grant to let him remain to witness the surrender."^[3] "... however Grant concurred with the doctors and he was sent home."^[2]

• "He was promoted to first lieutenant in the regular army on October 1, 1863."^[8]

2nd Arkansas Cavalry

John rejoined the Army in St. Louis, Missouri [on 3/18/1864^[5] OR 12/14/64^[6]] as Colonel of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry.^[9][7]

• "While on sick leave he organized the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry and was made its Colonel on March 18, 1864. The cavalry seen gallant action at Jefferson City, Boonville, Independence, Big Blue, Osage and Newtonia. By order of the War Department the names of these six battles were placed on the colors of the regiment. In camp at Springfield, Missouri, they were ordered to Memphis, Tennessee. Leaving on December 14, 1864, they arrived at Memphis on January 25, 1865. On March 13, he received a brevet to Brigadier General for his gallant and meritorious services in the fall campaign of 1864 in southwest Missouri."^[2]
• "While still home on sick leave, he recruited a regiment of Cavalry, and without calling upon the government for the expenditure of a dollar, enrolled 1200 men and had them mustered into the service of the United States as the Second Arkansas Cavalry. He was mustered as Colonel [on] March 18, 1864."^[3]
  • "Led by Colonel Phelps, on march and scout and skirmish, in the charge and on the battleline they showed great endurance and exhibited the most desperate courage until "Phelps Guerrillas" became known as the most daring fighters in the South Western Army. By order of the War Department the names of six battles were placed on the colors of the regiment--Jefferson City, Boonville, Independence, Big Blue, Osage and Newtonia."^[3]
  • "After eight months of active service in Missouri Gen. Phelps was ordered to Memphis, Tenn., with his command. He rode out of Springfield, Missouri, December 14, 1864, and arrived at Memphis January 25, 1865. This was a wonderful march of over 400 miles through the enemy’s country in the dead of winter without a tent, and was accomplished with the loss of only one man."^[3]
  • "He was appointed colonel of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry (Union) on March 18, 1864.[1] Phelps served as commander of Brigade 1 of the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of West Mississippi from April 1865 to June 17, 1865; commander of Brigade 2 of the Cavalry Corps of the Military District of West Mississippi from June 17, 1865 to July 14, 1865 and of the Cavalry Division of the Military District of West Mississippi from July 14, 1865 until he was mustered out of the volunteer service."^[8]

He mustered out with his regiment on August 20, 1865 in La Grange, Tennessee.^[6][3]

He resigned on September 28, 1865 as 1st Lieutenant^[5][10]

^[6][9][7]

due to his previous sickness.^[3]

• "Phelps ... resigned his commission in the regular army on September 28, 1865."^[8]
• following resignation, "He then traveled for a bit to help regain his health."^[2]
• "On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Phelps for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866."^[8]
  • "He received brevet appointments of captain, for the Missouri Campaign, major and colonel in the regular army to rank from March 13, 1865."^[8]

Postwar

In July 1864, John married Margaret J. ___ in Springfield, Missouri. Their children were Edith Allen Phelps and John Smith Phelps.^[11][5] It is possible they also had a daughter Lucy who may have died young.^[12]

• After his illness & resignation: "he turned to farming and was also a miner. Having been a success, he lost his fortune in a depression in 1899 and found work in a sawmill in Tacoma, Washington. Not long after he began working there he nearly had his arm torn off in an accident. Down on his luck, he asked the state to send him to the Soldiers' Home. After some time there, he was able to restore his health and later traveled again to California, where he died in Pasadena."^[2]

John continued to live in Springfield, Missouri between 1870 and 1890.^[12][13][10]

In 1870, John appeared to live on a good-sized farm with his wife Margaret, daughter Edith, and another possible daughter, Lucy. His parents John and Mary were also recorded in the household, in addition to 6 farmhands, 3 domestic servants, and a servant's son. John's real estate was valued at $7,000, and his personal estate at $10,000.^[12]

In the 1880 census, the Phelps family were recorded on South Street in Springfield. john was a farmer. wife jane and children edith a (14) and john s. (7). also brother in law j.t. white, a boarder s.w. deffell, and a domestic servant eliza flakey[?]^[14]

In 1890, John's Springfield residence was recorded as 605 Dollison Street.^[10]

In 1898, John Phelps moved to Washington state.^[6] Around March 1899, he was recorded as a widower and farmer (and a second illegible occupation), although it appears his wife was still alive at this time.^[1]

On September 6, 1912, John and his wife Margaret sought admission to the Washington Veterans Home in Kitsap County, Washington.^[11][9] At the time of their admission, he was 73 years old and described as 5'11 with a light complexion.^[6] He entered the home with "def hearing", cardiac hypertension, and chronic myocarditis.^[5] He was described as 5'11 with a fair complexion, gray hair, and gray eyes. he was a rancher, religion "prab" [assuming "Prot" = protestant], and residence subsequent to discharge was "Taso[Paso?] Robles, Calif"^[5]

His wife Margaret died on March 2, 1915,^[15] but John continued to live at the Washington Veterans Home.^[16]

On September 16, 1921 (or September 17^[8]), John E. Phelps died of bronchopneumonia in Pasadena Hospital in Pasadena, California. His son wrote to the veterans' home stating that he belived his father had been "absent on furlough" when he fell ill.^[17] He is buried at Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.^[2]

From Encyclopedia of Arkansas:^[18]

In August 1863, John E. Phelps ... was appointed recruiting commissioner for the regiment [2nd Arkansas Cavalry]. Phelps brought a great deal of experience to his new position and soon instituted an active campaign to bring the regiment up to full strength from his headquarters in Springfield. Not only were recruits gathered from the many Arkansas refugees in southern Missouri, but regular scouting parties were sent into northern Arkansas to secure additional men, including former members of the Peace Society. Many other men joined at Fort Smith (Sebastian County) and mustered into the regiment. Finally, on March 18, 1864, the Second Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, with twelve full companies, officially mustered into Federal service with Phelps as the colonel. By this time, the regiment was composed not only of loyal Arkansans from nearly every region of the state, but also a fair number of Missourians, a smattering of Texans, Choctaw, and Chickasaw, as well as soldiers from Tennessee, Kansas, and Illinois. While the unit was still organizing, and throughout the course of the war, the Second Arkansas spent much of its time patrolling northern Arkansas in search of Confederate guerrillas and bandits who preyed on the local population. ... Although the regiment rarely acted as a united command—as small detachments were often scattered around the countryside—the men proved themselves quite capable ... On May 3, 1864, a foraging party from the Second Arkansas was ambushed by guerrillas at Richland Creek. The Confederates refused to take prisoners, and by the time the fighting was over, nearly forty men from the Second Arkansas lay dead. ... In the fall of 1864, the unit helped counter Sterling Price’s Missouri Raid, the only Arkansas Union regiment to do so from start to finish. Then, in January 1865, the unit was transferred east of the Mississippi River and served in Tennessee and Mississippi until the end of the war. The Second Arkansas was the only Arkansas Union regiment to serve extensively outside the state during the fighting.

Research Notes

• Need census records: 1850 (likely here); 1860; 1900; 1910 (likely here)
• Middle name Elisha^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ZP-BSP2?i=6&cc=2143178
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24146283/john-elisha-phelps : accessed 9 December 2021), memorial page for John Elisha Phelps (6 Apr 1839–17 Sep 1921), Find A Grave: Memorial #24146283, citing Hazelwood Cemetery, Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by Find a Grave.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12} " John E. Phelps: A Sketch of Military Service", White River Valley Historical Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 2, Fall 1995. p. 18, 23.
4. ↑ "John E Phelps Military Sketch", AnceStory Archives, February 4, 2014.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5} "United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8M9-K9N : 12 March 2018), John E Phelps, 1920; citing p. 17266, Sawtelle, California, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1749 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 205; FHL microfilm 1,577,825.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} "Washington, Soldier Home Records, 1891-1945", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYY-GHRP : 16 March 2018), John E Phelps, 1912.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} "United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2M25-MCB : 19 February 2021), John E Phelps, 1907-1933; citing NARA microfilm publication M850 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,635,807.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6} Wikipedia entry for John E. Phelps.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZP-BSVJ?i=4&cc=2143178
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} "United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K83M-3N7 : 8 March 2021), John E Phelps, 1890; citing NARA microfilm publication M123 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 338,189.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Washington, Soldier Home Records, 1891-1945", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYY-GHPY : 16 March 2018), John E Phelps in entry for Margaret J Phelps, 1912.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M463-YWW : 29 May 2021), John E Phelps, 1870.
13. ↑
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6X3-2MV : 24 November 2021), John E. Phelps, Springfield, Greene, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 45, sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
15. ↑ "Washington, Soldier Home Records, 1891-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZP-BSNC?cc=2143178&wc=93X3-ZG9%3A1066621202%2C1066622778 : 24 October 2017), Retsil Home > Phelps, John E, #334 > image 2 of 16; Washington State Archives, Olympia.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHFV-CC2 : 4 February 2021), John E Phelps, 1920.
17. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ZP-BS22?i=15&cc=2143178
18. ↑ Brian K. Robertson, [https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/second-arkansas-cavalry-6378/ "Second Arkansas Cavalry (US)", Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

See also:

• "John E. Phelps", Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
• Wikidata: Item Q6230875, en:Wikipedia
• FamilySearch ID: K6WG-Q7B.

• https://mohistory.org/collections/item/P0233-2696
• https://mohistory.org/collections/item/P0233-2695
• Allen, Desmond Walls. Second Arkansas Union Cavalry. Conway, AR: Arkansas Research, 1987.
• Current, Richard Nelson. Lincoln's Loyalists: Union Soldiers from the Confederacy.
• Kirkman, Paul. The Battle of Westport: Missouri's Great Confederate Raid.
• Robertson, Brian K. "Men Who Would Die by the Stars and Stripes: A Socio-economic Examination of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry (US)." Arkansas Historical Quarterly 69 (Summer 2010): 117–139.
• Robertson, Brian K. "Men Who Would Die by the Stars and Stripes: The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry (US) during the American Civil War." MA thesis, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2008.