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TESTIMONIALS

From the many testimonials by General Boomer’s friends in St. Louis, the following extracts are made:--

"General Boomer came to this city when a mere youth, with a business upon his hands that required the judgment, good sense, and experience of mature years. These traits of character he soon developed in an extraordinary degree, and by them he won the confidence of all who had business connections with him. He took at once an enviable position as a man of integrity and real worth—position which he always maintained."

It was evident to all who knew our dear departed Boomer, that he was governed by no common aims in life—that he had a high standard of manliness, ripened by much thought and reflection. One of the prominent traits of his character was his justice. Whatever he said he would do, he did. No one doubted his motives, or believed that they were covered by any cloak of policy, or that any selfish end was sought. He was unflinching in his principles, but kind in maintaining them; just and generous, the soul of honor and truth. These traits made him greatly beloved, because he could be entirely trusted.

"General Boomer possessed the highest order of talents, and rarely has any young man, thrown into a world of

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strangers dependent upon himself, accomplished what he did. He won a reputation, both in this city and in the country where he was known, that no man of his years has ever excelled or equaled in the State of Missouri. So great was his popularity in the country, that it was the wish of the people in the district to which his town of Castle Rock belonged to send him as their representative to Washington."

"In the death of this brave soldier the State of Missouri has lost one of its brightest gems. He was a young man whose high-toned moral character, whose activity and enterprise, whose ambition to use his time and talents to the best possible advantage, were well worthy the imitation of our young men. All who knew him loved him, for they believed in him. He had a keen knowledge of character, was sound in judgment, always kind and magnanimous.

Too much cannot be said in praise of the brilliant record he has left behind, and although he lived but few years, yet it was a long life in noble deeds and manly action. The people of Missouri will long love and honor his name."

Osage City, Missouri, July 10, 1863
"I have been intimately acquainted with General Boomer for the last six years, and have always been advised of the estimation in which he was held in the community. His acquaintance was extensive, and among all his numerous business connections in the country, he was always regarded as a man of sterling and unswerving integrity.

Since the breaking out of the rebellion his popularity has greatly extended and increased, through the universal attachment and devotion of the members of the Twenty-

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sixth Regiment, whose letters to their friends at home have been filled with descriptions of the sayings and doings of their noble commander. One old gentlemen, living in this place, whose son was a captain in the Twenty-sixth Regiment shed tears upon reading the announcement of General Boomer’s death.

There has never been any man in this community who was so universally beloved ant esteemed, nor any one whose loss could be so generally felt or so deeply regretted as his."

Castle Rock, September 18, 1863.
"As a man of business in this place, General Boomer pleased and satisfied all with whom he had any transactions. He was remarkable in possessing the desirable faculty of pleasing every one, on account of his justness and kindness. Free from excitement, generous to a fault, energetic, and given to detail in his business relations, manly and considerate, he was beloved by all ho knew him."

"All who knew Boomer loved him. There was a strength and tenderness in his nature that made him a universal favorite wherever he went. He was noble, generous, and true, and his loss falls heavily upon the people of this community. It will never be made up to them."

Before Vicksburg, June 14, 1863
"My Dear Mrs. S-----:--Though no words of mine can assuage the grief or fill the place made vacant by the loss of a dearly loved brother, still it is with a feeling of pride that I can bear testimony to his exalted character, his signal ability, and his patriotic devotion to his country, for the sake of which he lost his life in an attempt to storm this stronghold of the enemy on the twenty-second ult.

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Though he has been taken from us, his spirit still lives and animates his surviving comrades—‘it can never die.’

While he was my friend and companion in arms, he was more than a friend—he was a support, one in whom I placed the greatest confidence, and whom I had learned to love as a brother.

The last written communication I had from him was the day before the assault, in which he had said he had discovered a good rout leading nearly up to the enemy’s works, where troops could be marched under cover from their fire. I went down, and we talked the matter over, examined the grounds, and concluded the plan was feasible. The next morning he led his column to the assault; but before the final assault was made, the Seventh Division, to which he belonged, was sent to the assistance of General McClernand who had asked General Grant for reinforcements, and it was in front of his line that he lost his life.

Very sincerely your friend,
J. P. McPherson,
Major-General"

Rochester, N. Y., June 26, 1863.
"Mrs. S---
My dear Madam:--I saw and conversed with your brother and my friend several times on the sad and eventful day when he gave his life for the country which he had served so long and so well. Though exposed the whole day, he was unharmed until my division was detached from General McPherson’s and ordered to the support of General McClernand’s corps, in the afternoon. The three brigades of the division were then sent to different points, and I was not near your brother when he fell, but one of his aids reported

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the event to me soon after it occurred. He had formed his brigade to make a charge on the enemy’s works, and was instantly killed as he was moving forward to give the final orders.

I saw his body just before dark, after it had been brought from the field, and was impressed by the natural and composed posture and expression of the face. There was no distortion, and but little disfigurement, so that it was difficult to persuade myself that he was really dead, and not sleeping after the fatigue of the day.

My acquaintance with General Boomer began in the early part of December last, and from that time up to the moment we were called to mourn his loss, he was in command of the Third Brigade of my division. A better man and a braver officer, a more warm-hearted disinterested friend, in short, a more noble man than he, I have yet to find. I conceived for him the strongest friendship from my first acquaintance, which was strengthened and cemented by an unreserved social and official intercourse.

While it must be gratifying to you to know the high estimate in which your brother was held, and it may perhaps somewhat soften your sorrow, it cannot console you for his loss; nor do I presume that my own sorrow and heartfelt sympathy will do much to lessen your affliction.

I regret that it was impossible to comply with your brother’s wishes—to have his remains, in the event of his death, sent to you. The attempt was made by his aide-de-camp, but he was compelled to bury them at the landing on the Yazoo River, with the intention of forwarding them as soon as possible.

I am, madam, with much sympathy and respect,
Truly your friend,
J. F. Quimby."

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The following is an extract from a letter of C. A. Dana:--

Vicksburg, May 30, 1863.
"I have met with few persons in life for whom I have felt such an instinctive sympathy as Boomer. He was brave, manly, affectionate, and sincere, keen in perception and sound in judgment. Of the many soldiers who have fallen in this magnificent campaign, his death is the only one which has caused me direct personal sorrow."

From General Crocker:--

St. Louis, June 5, 1863.
"It is due to the memory of General Boomer to say, that there was no man of any rank in the who army of the Tennessee more universally beloved than he. No officer has been more conspicuous than he in this magnificent campaign, and no generalship has excelled that which he displayed at Champion Hills. To him, in a great measure, we owe that victory. No man was rising so fast in distinction, as Boomer, and no death has been more generally deplored than his."

From a soldier in the Third Brigade, Seventh Division, Seventeenth Army Corps:--

Vicksburg, May 30, 1863.
"Alas! Our beloved Boomer has fallen! He had been fighting all day, and late in the afternoon was sent to reinforce McClernand, and instead of being kept as a reserve he was ordered to the front ranks. He said to a friend that he thought this unjust; but still he obeyed every order, and cheerfully went in to take charge of his column in person.

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Just as he had drawn up his troops in line of battle, a bullet from the enemy’s sharp-shooters pierced his head, killing him instantly, just as the sun was setting.

He was the moving spirit of the division, the bravest of the brave, and has ‘gained an imperishable renown.’"

Walnut Hills, near Vicksburg, May 28, 1863.
"But our sky is not cloudless. Dark shadows have cast their gloom over our hearts; the darkest was the death of poor Boomer.

I cannot tell you what he was—you knew and loved him so well—but I can tell you that his loss is more generally deplored than that of any officer who has fallen in this campaign.

On our march to Hard Times I was with him most of the way, and our intimacy increased until I felt towards him like a brother. Personally I could almost feel the bullet in my heart that pierced his head.

He died at the head of his brigade, with his face to the foe.

Vicksburg would be bought at a heavy price if no other life than his was paid.

W. S. Hillyer,
General Grant’s Staff."

Headquarters 7^th Brigade,
7^th Division, 17^th Army Corps,
Vicksburg, July 27, 1863.
Mrs. S----.
Dear Madam:--Had I known positively your name and address, I should have done myself the honor of writing

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you a letter of condolence at the time of your brother’s death, knowing as I did from his own remarks, that you were more to him than any other living being.

It is indeed true that I am familiar with his military career, and it is all bright and all glorious; so that it would be a most difficult task to recite facts or incidents that would have peculiar significance of interest. His whole life as a soldier, and all the incidents of it, seem equally interesting.

His mind was adapted to the service in every respect; and when he knew what movements our army was about to make, he was never at a loss to know what the movements of the enemy would be. For three long and tedious campaigns, namely, against Corinth, against Vicksburg by the Central Mississippi railroad, and against Vicksburg by the river, comprising almost every variety of movement and strategy, all of which were discussed and considered, no movement was made the effect and result of which he did not exactly foretell before it was commenced.

When a large portion of our army below Corinth was sent forward to General Buell in Cincinnati last summer, I recollect how confident he was that we should be attacked on that line at an early day. You will remember how son the battles of Iuka and Corinth followed.

Again, last December, when we were below Oxford, on the Tuscony Patafyty River, he constantly discussed the great danger we were in of having our supplies cut off by a raid upon the road, and came one day to request me to go with him to Grant’s headquarters and urge the necessity of the army being supplied immediately with twenty or thirty days’ rations of hard bread and coffee, so that, in case the

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road was destroyed, the army could march on down to Vicksburg and open communication by river, and thus no delay be incurred in reducing the place by any movement of the enemy in the rear. Subsequent events, which came speedily upon us, proved how well founded his opinions were.

When the last spring campaign opened we were ordered to land about fifteen miles above Lake Providence, and open a way for boats above Bayou Macon, with the view of going through to Red river to reinforce General Banks at Port Hudson, and clearing the river as far up as Warrenton. The distance to be traveled through these narrow, crooked bayous and small rivers, through the enemy’s country, would have been at least four hundred miles. Your brother at once took the most decided stand against the programme, and when the division gave the usual military reason for carrying it out, namely, ‘that it was so ordered,’ he went so far as to say that such orders must not be obeyed until a full consultation was had upon them, and the whole matter reconsidered. He immediately took a boat and went in person to Lake Providence, to have a private interview with General McPherson on the subject, and impressed him so strongly with the insurmountable obstacles to a successful campaign thus ordered, that the General made a trip to Young’s Point to see General Grant on the subject, and the whole plan was dropped.

We were ordered down the Tallahatchie River by the Yazoo Pass, which was also a movement in which your brother had no confidence, and he often remarked, before we sailed, that the campaign would be immensely expensive, and result in no advantage to the Government; and so it proved.

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But when the last movement was commenced, by way of Brunisburg, he was filled with confidence and hope, and often remarked that he could foresee its certain success.

In battle your brother conducted himself with as much calculation, deliberation, and calmness, as in the most common occurrences and affairs of life, and he dared to do what he saw clearly was best without orders, and even against orders in an unquestionable case.

At the battle of Iuka, after the enemy’s skirmishers were drawn back to the main line by a portion of his regiment and a fire received from nearly the whole line of the enemy, Boomer applied to me for an order to bring in his skirmishers at once, to form the whole regiment into line of battle, and be ready for an advance of the enemy, which was evidently about being made. I told him my orders from General Rosecrans were, to have the skirmishers hold their line, or advance if possible, and bring the whole body of infantry forward to their support. He said the line the skirmishers were on could not be maintained a moment, and if I did not choose to take the responsibility of ordering the skirmishers in, he would bring them in without orders, and accordingly did so; and I obtained an order to the same effect while he was doing this. Hardly had a moment elapsed after he accomplished this before the whole line of the enemy came forward like a tempest, and almost swept away the imperfect formation we had made.

Your brother was not overcome at all or disquieted by this shock, his regiment being in reserve, and he, having full discretion as to the point where and the time when he should move, personally led to the front line, where it was most weakened, and where the fire was most destructive,

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with four of his best companies; and seeing at a glance that all our reserve forces were needed there, he attempted to bring them up. While doing this he was shot, and fell, as was then supposed, mortally wounded.

While laboring under the pains of what he supposed, with all his friends (except his surgeon,) was a mortal wound, his courage and spirit did not fail, and he was only anxious for the issue of the battle. His only regret was that he was not able to complete the movement he had commenced, which he felt confident would have relieved the whole line in a great degree.

At Jackson, Champion Hills, and before Vicksburg, he exhibited the same judgment, calmness, determination, and zeal. He was following my brigade to the right of our line at Champion Hills, when he received an order to move back quickly and support General Hovey’s division, then being engaged and overwhelmed by superior numbers in the center. It was but a few minutes before the whole center of the enemy’s line was falling back before him.

The enemy was speedily reinforced at that point, and even commenced driving back the thinned ranks of Colonel Boomer’s brigade. He came to me and spoke as calmly and coolly as on any occasion, saying, ‘Sanborn, the enemy are too strong for my brigade where I am, but with two more regiments I can clear that part of the field. Can’t you let me have the Fifty-ninth and Forty-eighth Indiana from your Brigade?’ When I assured him that my troops were all engaged, but that the Second Brigade was close up, and I had heard General Grant order it at once to his support, he responded, ‘That is all I want,’ and rode off as cheerfully as if it were a holiday.

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In less than a half hour that part of the field was cleared, and clearing that really cleared the whole; so that your brother performed a most conspicuous part in that battle.

When the general order was given for the army to assault the enemy’s works on the 22^nd of May, Boomer was disposed to favor it, and to believe it would be successful, and not attended with very heavy loss. He based this belief on the fact that the enemy had been recently defeated in several engagements, and was consequently demoralized, and would not make a strong stand.

But after the movement had commenced, and the condition as well as disposition of the enemy became apparent, he had no confidence of our success, and became much depressed. This depression did not seem to be the result of any gloomy forebodings about himself, but of a fear—well founded, I think—that the assault would be carried too far, that we should lose the strength and flower of our army, and as a consequence Vicksburg, which we were sure to capture and reduce by delay.

Later than twelve o’clock that day he told me he had become convinced that we could not gain the parapets without more than fifty per cent of our men; that this would leave the enemy the larger force, which would be fresh, while ours would be exhausted and worn out, and that we had no chance of success. He asked me once if I did not think some one of us should go and see General McPherson in regard to the matter, and try to have the men ordered back to the camps. This, however, was but a few moments before we received a dispatch from General McClernand, saying that he was in part possession of the enemy’s works; that if he could be supported he could carry the position, etc., and an order for us to move to his support.

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As we left our positions to go to the support of McClernand, I saw your brother for the last time alive. He gave a broad, full smile, such as you know he could give, which seemed to say, ‘I don’t believe a word of the dispatch but am willing to go and see how it is.’

A half hour afterwards we were both warmly engaged with the enemy in our new positions, when your brother was killed. He fell at the time of his greatest usefulness, and when moving most rapidly forward in the pathway of glory. In his case how speedily it led to the tomb!

Your brother will never be forgotten by his companions in arms; and we all, even before we could realize that we should see him in the flesh nevermore, in heart exclaimed, ‘Wise counselor! Brave soldier! Genial and faithful friend! Hail! And farewell!’

Very truly yours,
J. B. Sanborn,
Brigadier-General"