All, I see many familiar names in the postings on this board. Am back in Missouri from California and back on my history quest... (Currently working on a new monograph about the recruiting of the 1st KCV)... Have much to share, and much to learn... and look forward to rekindling dialogues on our shared interests.
Regarding Bowles.... Like many of the officers of the 1st KCV (later the 79th USCT), who were involved in the Underground Railroad activities in the Kansas Territory prior to the Civil War. Bowles worked on the Lawrence route and there is a very good letter he wrote to a Franklin B. Sanborn (one of the many Massachusetts residents that assisted in raising money and other aid to help in the fight to make Kansas free) dated April 4, 1859, from Lawrence. In this letter Bowles details activities of the UGRR in Lawrence and the difficulties encountered. Among the topics Bowles discusses is the capture and trial of Doy... he states; "In the last four years I am personally known to the fact of nearly three hundred fugitives having passed through and recieved assistance from the abolitionists here at Lawwrence."
This letter can be found in "The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom," originally printed in 1898, reprinted in 1967. And also included in Sheridan's "The UGRR in Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas" 1998.
There is reference to Bowles being a photographer in Lawrence, before the war. In 1856 (about the time of the Wakarusa War) John Brown sat for Bowles and this image was the subject of the drawing done for the Frontice Piece of Hinton's "John Brown and his Men." Unfortunately, the photo is not known to be extant.
Bowles is listed as a 1st Lt. Company C, 9th Kansas Cavalry and there is every reason to believe that he served in the predecesor of this unit, Company I of the 3rd Kansas Volunteers (Lane's Brigade)... although I still need to confirm this fact.
Bowles first comes to some note in the 1st KCV when he assumed command of the regiment when Col. Williams was seriously wounded at the Battle of Honey Springs (See the O.R. for more on this battle.)
In 1864, political intrique descended upon the officer ranks of the 1st KCV... The Colonel was recommened to be brought up on various charges and tried by a court marshal. Several of the regiment's officers signed the charges (Earle states that the charges "were signed by nearly every Company officer in the Regiment.) Williams would eventually be court marshalled...
Evidently, Bowles was the ring leader of the effort against Williams and he was dismissed from the service (I suspect as a result of Williams' machinations.)
One could view this as an attempted Mutiny on the part of an unknown number of the officers of the regiment against Williams. (This was the 2nd such effort against Williams... the first occurred in the Spring of 1863 and was orchestrated by Kansas Governor Carney.)
The Muster Out Rolls for the Regiment contain the following information on Bowles:
He served as the Major of the regiment (Adjutant) from formation until May 2, 1863 when John was commissioned as a Lt. Col. at Fort Scott, KS and served as the Regimental XO. (Interesting to note that R.G. Ward signs his report on Island Mound in Oct 1862 as Major... also, Bowles commission was from the Secretary of War, not from Gov. Carney... more on this in the future...)
Regarding the special order from the War department... here's what the Regt.'s Muster Out Rolls has to say:
Bowles, John
Special Orders No 335, dated Washington, June 27, 1865. Extract 57. By direction of the President: to mush of Special Orders No. 452, of December 17, 1864, from this office as dishonorably dismissed Lieutenant Colonel John Bowles, 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers from the service of the United States, is hereby revoked and he is honorably discharged [from] the service of the United States as of the date of said Order. By order of the Secretary of War. Signed E.D. Townsend, Asst. Adj. Gen.
So... what can we deduce about Bowles from the above information:
1. He was in Kansas early on and involved with the UGRR there. He was likely an acquaintance of John Brown, and it is likely he participated in other Free State activities during the War for Kansas.
3. He held a commission in the 9th Kansas Cavalry and was likely in the predecesor of this unit during 1861, and likely saw service with Lane's Brigade.
3. He led the 1st KCV in Battle at Honey Springs after Williams was seriously wounded.
4. He had a falling out with Williams and came out on the short end of the stick in that confrontation (although his record was later corrected.
As stated, I am working on a monograph about the formation of the regiment and would be indebted to anyone with additional info on Bowles.
Semper Fi,
Chris Tabor
Butler, MO