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Lee County honors Civil War veteran
For the Daily Gate City
A ceremony honoring John Drain, Lee County's last Civil War veteran, was conducted April 26 at Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk.
The event, complete with taps, remarks and wreath placement at Drain's grave, was sponsored by the Lee County Veterans Project.
John Drain was born a slave on Jan. 9, 1844, in Clark County, Mo., according to a biography furnished by the Lee County Veteran's Project.
“We've gathered today to pay a long overdue thank you to a most remarkable man who escaped the shameful sin of slavery, the memory of which still shackles the spirit of America's past,” said Terry Altheide, member of the Veterans Project and president of the Lee County Pioneer Cemetery Association.
According to the biography, on a January night during the Civil War, the 18-year-old Drain ran away from his home at the Clark County farm and joined nearby Union Army forces.
He traveled by box car to St. Louis, Mo., for military training and was shipped, along with the soldiers of the 67th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Volunteers, to Helena, Ark.
There, Drain and his fellow soldiers skirmished with Rebel forces.
The 67th Regiment later was nearly wiped out by Rebel Calvary at the battle of Port Hudson, La. The battle was one of many that would give control of the Mississippi River to the Union.
Officers were cut down and “many of the enlisted men were cut to pieces by the rampaging” (Cavalry) soldiers,” according to the biography.
Drain escaped and made his way to the Union Army, fought in later battles and was discharged in 1867.
After farming for a while and helping found Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., he moved to Keokuk and lived there for several years.
Later he moved to Montgomery County, Mo., to live with his daughter. Two years before he died, Drain and his son, Alonzo, attended a reunion at the Gettysburg Battlefield, camping with thousands of Civil War veterans.
He died on Feb. 28, 1940, in Montgomery at the age of 96.
Drain was laid in state at Greaves Mortuary, Keokuk, prior to his burial at Oakland Cemetery, according to the biography.
During the ceremony for Drain, the Rev. Deb Letcher, pastor of Bethel Church, Keokuk, led the invocation. Delores Bradley of Keokuk placed the wreath and Basil Reed of V.F.W. Post 3508 presented the flag.
The 2nd Iowa Artillery comprised the honor guard and Taylor Young of Donnellson played “Taps.”
The Lee County Veterans Project can be contacted at 524-8772 and P.O. Box 201, Keokuk IA 52632.
A ceremony honoring John Drain, Lee County's last Civil War veteran, was conducted April 26 at Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk.
The event, complete with taps, remarks and wreath placement at Drain's grave, was sponsored by the Lee County Veterans Project.
John Drain was born a slave on Jan. 9, 1844, in Clark County, Mo., according to a biography furnished by the Lee County Veteran's Project.
“We've gathered today to pay a long overdue thank you to a most remarkable man who escaped the shameful sin of slavery, the memory of which still shackles the spirit of America's past,” said Terry Altheide, member of the Veterans Project and president of the Lee County Pioneer Cemetery Association.
According to the biography, on a January night during the Civil War, the 18-year-old Drain ran away from his home at the Clark County farm and joined nearby Union Army forces.
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There, Drain and his fellow soldiers skirmished with Rebel forces.
The 67th Regiment later was nearly wiped out by Rebel Calvary at the battle of Port Hudson, La. The battle was one of many that would give control of the Mississippi River to the Union.
Officers were cut down and “many of the enlisted men were cut to pieces by the rampaging” (Cavalry) soldiers,” according to the biography.
Drain escaped and made his way to the Union Army, fought in later battles and was discharged in 1867.
After farming for a while and helping found Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., he moved to Keokuk and lived there for several years.
Later he moved to Montgomery County, Mo., to live with his daughter. Two years before he died, Drain and his son, Alonzo, attended a reunion at the Gettysburg Battlefield, camping with thousands of Civil War veterans.
He died on Feb. 28, 1940, in Montgomery at the age of 96.
Drain was laid in state at Greaves Mortuary, Keokuk, prior to his burial at Oakland Cemetery, according to the biography.
During the ceremony for Drain, the Rev. Deb Letcher, pastor of Bethel Church, Keokuk, led the invocation. Delores Bradley of Keokuk placed the wreath and Basil Reed of V.F.W. Post 3508 presented the flag.
The 2nd Iowa Artillery comprised the honor guard and Taylor Young of Donnellson played “Taps.”
The Lee County Veterans Project can be contacted at 524-8772 and P.O. Box 201, Keokuk IA 52632.
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Tim Isenmann wrote on Jun 7, 2008 7:13 PM:
One question: why is John Drain not buried in the National Cemetery? "