Notes for William Wesley Sturch:
[Troy & Carolyn Reed.FTW]

William Wesley Sturch served in the civil War. 24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry (U.S.A.) Company "H" - Enlisted at Jacksonport, Jackson Co., AR = also served in Battery "D" Second Regiment Missouri Volunteer Light Artillery.

Dear Troy,

I finally got through William Wesley Sturch's pension file 2/17/98, and got it
down to a more manageable size. I tried to put most pertinent
information in the file. Left out many physician's affidavits, (quite a
few over the period of time it covers) since they said mostly the same
thing. There is an affidavit from Richard Columbus Sturch in there.

I guess my grandfather, James Wesley Scott, handled a lot of the stuff
for Nancy Jane Meacham Sturch, the widow of Wm. Wesley. Found it quite
interesting. Seems he had the same illness my son, Scott, has. Scott has
to take medication daily, and has bouts with his Crone's Disease.
(Colitis). William Wesley must have had a terrible time!!!

Cousin Brenda Tengelins

James Wesley Scott of Salado, Arkansas wrote the following account on October 3, 1917. James Wesley is the son of
Amanda Caroline Sturch and Henry Scott.
"Requested to write a short account of the life and ancestry of William W. Sturch, I pen the following:

"William W. Sturch was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Sturch. Richard Sturch was born in Oxfordshire, England, April 10, 1791. When 11 years old he ran away from home and shipped for America. He followed the seafaring life until the war of 1812, between the United States and England, when he enlisted for the cause of his adopted land and served till the end of that war. In 1818 he visited his old home in Oxfordshire for the first time since his departure, his parents all these years thinking him dead. Here he remained for two years, returning then to the United States. He located in Rhode Island, where he drove stage seven years, then drifted along down the Atlantic Coast to South Carolina, where he married to Elizabeth, Dean, in 1827. Here the family lived until 1838, when they removed to the northern part of Alabama. In 1838 the family again moved, this time to Hardeman County, Tennessee, where my uncle, William W. Sturch was born, March 1, 1839. The family remained here about two years, when they moved to the state of Mississippi, then again back to Alabama. Here they lived until the winter of 1852, when it was decided to go further west. Loading what household goods they wished to retain into two four-horse wagons, they started for Arkansas, landing in Independence County, March, 1853, where the greater part of the family has lived and died.
"Richard Sturch died October 12, 1872, and on December 9, 1874, the widow and mother passed to the great beyond. Both lie side by side in the cemetery at Newark, this county."
"William grew up a stout, hardy boy, child of eleven children, all of whom lived to reach man and woman estate, four girls and seven boys. All except two lived to rear families of their own." "William grew up on the farm where he worked at farm and carpenter work. About the time he reached his majority the civil war began, and a choice had to be made between enlisting in Company H, 245h Missouri infantry, at Jefferson Barracks, MO., and later in Battery D, second Missouri Light artillery."
"In these companies he served until November 20, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Benton Barracks, MO., his services being no longer needed."
"At this time a company was being made up at St. Louis for the purpose of driving the Indians out of Wyoming and the Dakotas, wishing to visit this part of the country, such an opportunity presented itself, so he enlisted with 1,700 others as United States Regulars. This company took passage on a boat at St. Louise and landed at Omaha, Neb. Here they unloaded their wagons, teams, and horses for the cavalry, provisions, etc., for the overland trip. In Southern Wyoming they established Fort Laramie. Here they left some of their provisions and enough men to guard the fort until the return of the others".
"The regiment pushed on west and north through the black hills up Powder river, thence into the Dakotas, fighting Indians almost daily. The thrilling stories he told of the fights, privations, hardships and dangers they underwent was interesting. How the boys were lassoed by the Indians, dragged from their horses, scalped, then tied to trees or chained down to be burned to death."
"When several hundred miles from Fort Laramie their provisions gave out, and a scout had to be sent back to the fort, under heavy guard, while those that remained went into camp, and foraged for meat the best they could, never getting but a short distance from camp. Their meat consisted of the wild buffalo, antelope, and a mountain goat. There was a weed that grew in valleys of Powder River, the sap of which was very poisonous. The Indians would gather this sap and dip their arrows in it, and the slightest wound made by any of the poisoned arrows would cause death from 2 to 24 hours. When any of the boys died from any cause a grave was dug, and a circle of soldiers formed around it, the dead one buried and earth packed hard, and the command marched over the grave, to leave no trace of the burial place".
"After many months of warfare through that part of the country the remainder of the regiment returned to St. Louis, where they were discharged. William Sturch returned home to take up his vocation, as many thousands of soldiers of both armies did, after the great civil war. About 40 years ago he joined the church and became a Christian, and lived as he thought best up to the time of his death, which occurred September 22, 1917".
"Ever cheerful, he had a pleasant word with all whom he chanced to meet. He was loyal to the party of his choice and to his government".
Signed: "J. W. Scott, Salado, Ark., Oct. 3, 1917."