John Pell was born in New York. Upon the first call of President Lincoln for troops, impromptu meetings were held all over Wabasha County. John Pell organized a group of men, which eventually became Company I. They were mustered into service on April 29, 1861. It was the custom then for the enlisted men to elect their officers. Thus, John was elected captain of the company and commissioned as such by Governor Ramsey on April 30, 1861. As the troops were transported down the Mississippi, heading to the east and war, the boat stopped at the Wabasha levee for the purpose of giving the enlisted men one last look at their home and the friends they were leaving. The ladies of Wabasha, in anticipation of this event, had purchased a beautiful silk flag. assisted by several patriotic ladies of Lake City, which was presented to the company at that time. Captain Pell received it on behalf of the company with an assurance that its colors would never be surrendered. He kept his word and after passing through the bloody struggles of Bull Run, Antietam, and the Wilderness, all tattered and torn, it was returned to the state and retired. Lt Col Miller mentioned John in a report sent to Ramsey after the battle of Bull Run. "While our officers generally behaved well, of those under my notice, Captains Wilkin and Pell, were especially brave and active. In the fall of 1861, Colonel Gorman was promoted to Brigadier General. He appointed John Pell to act as his Assistant Adjutant General. Gorman's son, Dick was a sergeant in Company A. When 2nd Lt Halsey, of Company I, resigned his post and left the regiment, Willis tried to exert his influence with Governor Ramsey to give the appointment to Richard. On Nov 12, 1861, Augustus Ellison, of Company I, mentioned John in a letter to a hometown paper. He wrote: "Capt. Pell has returned to his company in order that he may force Dick Gorman on the company as one of the officers, but the boys won't swallow him. Colonel Dana favors the boys in making a choice of their own." On Dec 4th he continued the story. "There has been considerable contention in some of the companies in this regiment, in electing officers to fill the places of those who have resigned or been promoted. The men are allowed to make the choice by voting. Company I held an election a few days ago in which there seemed to have been considerable strife. and "wire pulling," to the end of bringing about the election of Dick Gorman (the General's son) but it seems that the men did not think as much of "Dick" as his father and Capt. Pell did, and only gave him seven votes, while the man the Captain did not want (Sergeant Major C. E. Davis) received fifty-two. There were two other candidates who respectively received nine and twelve. The Colonel happens to endorse the choice of the men and Davis' commission is daily looked for....Capt. Pell declares it is his intention to resign if Davis was commissioned and came into his company. I presume he will have the opportunity." It appears that John did not resign. It also appears that he never did get along with Davis, who was popular with the rest of the men of Company I. John floated back and forth from the company and other duties. He commanded the company when he was with it. When he was gone 1st Lt Davis took over command. In March and April l862, the remarks in John's monthly muster roll says: "On detached service as brigade provost marshal." Capt Pell and Company I were not engaged at the battle of Fair Oaks, because they were detached on provost duty. An interesting personal note is that we know the name of Captain Pell's cook. Many officers had an orderly assigned to them. They were either civilians or enlisted men assigned to them. In John's case his cook was a civilian by the name of Frank Dark. The name might also indicate that the man was a Negro, but this has not been verified. Pell was wounded at Antietam in September. On Oct 14, 1862, he was reportedly taken prisoner; details are unknown. Whereas enlisted men were required to stay for their full three year enlistment, unless physically disabled, officers were permitted to resign. John resigned from the regiment on March 23, 1863, and returned, for a brief time, to his home state of New York. On May 25, 1863 he was commissioned into the US Volunteers Adjutant General Dept, as a captain and Asst Adjutant General. Pell resigned on May 25, 1865. In 1886, his address was 6 E 36th St in New York City. He died in New York on Feb 6, 1902. Sources: The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Aug 7, 1861, p 2. The Taylors Falls Reporter, Nov 28, 1861, p2. The Taylors Falls Reporter, Dec 9, 1861, p2. Letter from John Churchill to Mary Cobb, from the Camp of the 1st Minnesota Vols, Near the Rappahanock River, Aug 2nd, 1863. John Pell's commission as captain, April 30, 1861. Letter from J R King to Gov Ramsey, Sept 20, 1862, MHS. Proceedings 35th Annual Reunion of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, St Paul, MN, June 20-21, 1902. National Archives pension file, Ernst L F Miller, Affidavit by Frank Dark. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
