First Annual Reunion and Convention

of the Missouri Division, United Confederate Veterans,

Moberly, Missouri, September 28-30, 1897

Address of General William H. Kennan delivered at the reunion on September 29th, 1897:

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SURVIVORS OF PINDALL’S BATTALION OF SHARP SHOOTERS, PARSON’S BRIGADE, C.S.A.: 

I have been commissioned by the widow and only surviving son of your brave departed commander, L.A. Pindall, to present you with this flag, which you will recognize as the old battle flag carried by your Battalion, to be carried by you in the parade to-day, which you have heretofore proudly borne and gallantly defended on many hotly contested battlefields, with a loss of many of your brave and less fortunate comrades, and received wounds, the scars of which you have today upon your bodies, as marks of your unflinching courage and heroic valor. 

You were chosen from the various companies of your Brigade, as were your officers, on account of your peculiar skill as marksmen, as men of undaunted courage, discretion, caution, physical prowess and faithful obedience to the commands of your officers. 

Your position was a position of the highest honor and trust. 

The army relied on you and implicitly trusted you, as your place in battle, as sharp shooters, was perilous in the highest degree. You were the sole objects, in the beginning of battles, of the almost unerring and deadly aim of soldiers of like character of the opposing army. 

You were the first to find and engage the enemy, then by the shrill blast of the bugle you rallied around this old flag, on the right of your Brigade, and bravely fought as you always did, through the battle. 

I have seen you employed often on our front, engaged in deadly skirmish with the enemy, and as often have I seen you rally to this flag. I have seen you defend it I am proud to say. You never deserted it. You would cheerfully have, and many of your comrades did, freely laid down your lives in defense of it. 

When I look into your frank and manly faces, and on your soldierly forms, I am forcibly reminded of the noble spirits who so ably officered your Battalion; Pindall, colonel; Kentick, Hayde, majors; Cake, Morrison, and Phillips, captains. All of whom, except Majors Kentick and Hayden, as far as I know, are gone to their rest, yet no dead for 

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” 

You will see form the letter which I shall presently read to you, and which is addressed to you, that your Colonel, before dying, transmitted his regard and undying affection for you, to his worthy widow and talented son, who is now a lawyer, located among the clientage of his father, who, in the letter, refers to you in terms most tender and endearing. 

I am truly glad, my comrades, to have met you again, and hope that in the future we will often meet at our annual reunions; but if we should never meet again here on earth, I devoutly pray, we will meet with Pindall, Morrison, Cake and Phillips and others of our comrades, who have gone before, at the final Reunion in the great beyond.

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TO THE SURVIVORS OF PINDALL’S BATTALION: 

DEAR FRIENDS – I sent today to Gen. W.H. Kennan, at his request and Maj. Newman’s request, your old battle flag, to be displayed upon the occasion of your reunion at Moberly. To say that it affords my mother and me great pleasure in thus being able to allow you to view again in memory’s vision some of the scenes now hallowed and almost sacred in which this old flag played a prominent part, is but feebly expressing our feelings. We wish that it could be so that we could be with the flag and meet you grand old heroes, who, to his dying hour my noble father cherished as companions far dearer than friends. Your well wisher,

X. O. PINDALL. 

Arkansas City, Ark.,

September 23, 1897 

Sources: Article from unknown source titled “9th Missouri Battalion – Sharpshooters” from the files of Brad Taylor; transcribed by Lisa Perry.