LAWRENCE, KANSAS, January 25, 1897

Chief of the Record of Pension Office, War Department, Washington, D.C.:

DEAR COLONEL: Yours of January 20 was received the 22d, and the medal was received the 23d. I am very happy to be accounted worthy to receive such an honor, and I assure you that I appreciated it very highly and thank you most sincerely. I just want to say to you that there was a private soldier in my battery that deserves a medal of honor as much or more than I did. It was at the battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864; he was the wheel driver of the caisson and his position at the time was comparitively out of danger. He saw my situation as I was manning the gun alone, and asked permission of the lieutenant to come and help me, which was given and he came boldly up where the missiles of death were flying thick and fast and said to me, "Let me help you; the lieutenant says I can." I never was so glad to see a man as I was to see him. He took the sponge staff and went to work like an old warrior, and he was ever after that my number one of the gun detachment, and the number one that left me had to take his place as driver. That was true gallantry. His name was J.A. Thorp, private, Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery. I have not heard from him since the war, and know not if he is dead or alive. I shall always hold him in grateful remembrance as a true and brave patriot.
Thanking you again for your kind remembrance, I am very truly,
SAMUEL J. CHURCHILL
 
 

MONTROSE, KANSAS, February 6.

Samuel J. Churchill:

FRIEND AND COMRADE: In reply to your letter of inquiry, which has been published, will say that J.A. Thorp is still in the land of the living and well. I came to Kansas in the spring of 1883, and settled here in Jewell county. My occupation is farming. For a good many years I have been trying to locate some of the Battery G boys, but never have succeeded in hearing from any of them until I saw your letter, and it came to me in such a way that it does me lots of good ­ it revives old memories. I congratulate you for the medal of honor that has been awarded you for your heroism at the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15, 1864. It was the men that stood by their guns in the heat of battle that won the victory, not the skulkers. And when number one dropped the sponge staff and skulked to the rear and you were left alone, I could hardly wait for my relief to come, and when I took that sponge staff there wasn't a man on earth that felt any better than I did. If you remember I pulled my jacket off and rolled up my sleeves as if I was going to chop wood. I really thought for a while that we were going to get the worst of it, but the victory was ours, and the old battle stained flag ­ Stars and Stripes ­ looked brighter than ever before.
I must say that words are inadequate to express my gratitude for the part that you have taken in my behalf, and if I should succeed in obtaining a medal it will be through your kindness. Give me the address of as many of the battery boys as you know, as I would like to hear from every one of them. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain as ever,
Your friend,

JAMES A. THORP
Formerly of Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery

RELATED LINKS:

His Story, in His Words

Offical Army Citation

Award Letter from the War Department

The Comrade Who Came to His Assistance (this page)

James Thorp Biographical Sketch

Cpl. Samuel J. Churchill U.S. Army Reserve Center, Lawrence, Kansas.

Other Medal of Honor Sites