Civil War headstone dedication honors Union veteran James W. Fox

METHOW – For much of the past 111 years, the only evidence that Civil War veteran James Wilson Fox was buried in the Methow Cemetery was a solitary stone that served as his grave marker. That changed last Saturday, August 19, when a diverse group of citizen activists, military veterans, and Civil War researchers came together to dedicate an official headstone to honor the Union soldier’s service.

The dedication marked the culmination of a two-year campaign that began when Pateros resident Brenda Brady learned of the existence of the unmarked grave and began investigating the issue further. Brady, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and descendent of the War of 1812, has strong feelings about honoring the war dead.

“I don’t care who they are; if they’re a soldier, they’re an American, they deserve a tombstone,” said Brady. “It’s as simple as that.”

Brady consulted with cemetery officials, found Fox’s crudely marked resting place and set the wheels in motion to provide the veteran with a fitting monument.

Brady next called Don Jameson, Camp Commander of Fort Walla Walla Camp 3 of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and asked him to secure an appropriate marker for the Fox grave. FWW Camp Graves Registration Officer Clifford submitted the requisite paperwork to the Veterans Administration and earlier this year the headstone was received and stored in Brady’s Pateros warehouse. The design replicates the tall, narrow design typical of the headstones used for Civil War veterans 150 years ago.

Jack and Braden Prock of Tonasket made a special trip to the cemetery to set the stone in place prior to last Saturday’s observance.

Following Jameson’s opening remarks, FWW acting chaplain David Heath delivered the opening prayer and blessing.

Brady contributed some details about Fox’s life.

Fox was born on Feb. 23, 1843. Prior to his July 1861 enlistment in Company C of the Ninth Kansas Calvary in Sharon, Ohio, Fox listed his occupation as “printer.”  He was discharged in November 1864. The following year Fox married Emma Leonard in Shawnee County, Kansas. The couple had one daughter, Helen Patrice, who married a man with the last name Dunbar. The burial site of Fox’s wife is not known though Brady speculated that she may be interred on the family homestead near Methow. According to his 1912 death certificate Fox died of “dropsy” (edema) and “Bright’s” (kidney) disease.

Jameson did not have any details of Fox’s personal exploits during the war, so he recited some after-action writeups from the Kansas National Guard Museum.

One account described an 1863 engagement between Union and Confederate forces involving a Union supply train carrying badly needed supplies to the Union command at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. As part of the “exhaustive chase” associated with that battle the Ninth Kansas was in the saddle for 26 consecutive days and most nights.

“Many of the cavalrymen walked more miles than they rode so as to husband the strength of the animals on which they so implicitly relied in the hours of need,” the report said.

Another episode recounted how the regiment, then at Springfield, Ohio, was ordered to report to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Upon reaching Fort Smith, the regiment – without halting and with little rest - received orders to proceed immediately to Little Rock. Near Little Rock the regiment was met with new orders to return by forced march back to Fort Smith which was then under threat.

“Lieutenant Colonel Clark picked the most able of men and horses and promptly complied with the order, halting in route only long enough to feed the animals, and accomplished the distance of 150 miles in 54 hours,” the report said.

Jim and Loretta Dimond, Civil War historical researchers representing Gov. Isaac Stevens Camp 1 in Olympia, placed a wreath of commemoration on the headstone.

Camp Secretary Hank Cramer sang two songs, Battle Cry of Freedom, and Battle Hymn of the Republic.

The Columbia Post 97 Honor Guard fired a three-volley rifle salute and sounded taps.

Many in the group reconvened at the Brewster Legion headquarters for a no-host lunch and short meeting.