On Memorial Day, we honor the memory of those who gave their lives in defense of our country. This year, let's reflect on the tragic sacrifice of Sgt. Joseph Allen Frith, a Civil War soldier whose story embodies the bravery and sacrifice of our military personnel.
This Memorial Day, as we set aside a day to honor the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of our country, let us remember the story of Sgt. Joseph Allen Frith, a young man whose life and death epitomize the courage and sacrifice of our military personnel.
Frith, a 23-year-old farmer, joined Richard Blazer's Scouts, Lincoln's special forces, from the 34th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Described as always ready for action and quick with a smile, Frith quickly gained the admiration of his fellow soldiers.
Lincoln's Special Forces had a unique mission: to lead Union armies in battlefield reconnaissance and track down the South's most dangerous men, including Confederate guerrilla leader John Singleton Mosby and his Rangers. To do so, they often donned Confederate uniforms and engaged in irregular warfare.
On a fateful summer day in June 1864, Frith and his fellow Scouts encountered a party of Confederates. A violent firefight on horseback ensued, with men on both sides being wounded and killed before the Confederates fled.
Tragically, Frith sustained a fatal bullet in the back from a young untrained fellow Union soldier who had no business riding with the Scouts. The soldier carelessly carried his revolver in his hand, directly behind Frith. When his horse stumbled and fell, the pistol discharged, and the ball entered Frith's back, coming out at the pit of his stomach.
In a letter informing Frith's father of his death, a fellow Scout wrote that Frith "spoke of his mother frequently and wanted to let her know he died like a soldier." The following evening, at a nearby farmhouse, despite a surgeon's care, Frith succumbed to his injuries.
Frith's body was buried behind the Dickson house "with the honors of a soldier… in as good form as the circumstances would allow." However, like many of his fellow covert warriors, Frith's grave remains unknown. Efforts are ongoing to find his final resting place.
The exact origin of Memorial Day is disputed, but the tradition of strewing the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers to honor their sacrifice and memory started in both the North and South immediately after the close of the Civil War. In the South, women's groups played a significant role in this tradition.
In the North, veterans led the way, with one veterans' group, the Grand Army of the Republic, specifically stating that the practice should "be kept up year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades." After World War I, the practice expanded to honor all American veterans who have given their lives in battle.
Frith's father reflected on his son's death in a powerful letter to his childhood friends. "In his own pure and unselfish life, he taught you a lesson how to live, and in his calm composure in the hour of death, he has left you his example of how to die."
On this Memorial Day, let us remember the sacrifice of Sgt. Joseph Allen Frith and all those who have served our country with honor and bravery. We owe them an eternal debt of gratitude for their selfless service and sacrifice. May we strive to be a country worthy of their service.
