Corporal Joseph Meskimen

Most of the Civil War veterans buried in the hallowed cemeteries of Arkansas fought for the independence of the Confederacy. However, beside them are a considerable number of Union veterans, with whom they were reunited as fellow Americans at the war's end... and with whom they have approached the throne of their Creator in death.

One of these men is Joseph H. Meskimen. At least, this is the spelling of his name as it appears on his headstone. The spelling in the Official Roster is "Miskimmons." It is not unknown for the Roster's spelling to be incorrect; it is also possible that soldiers changed the spelling of their surname following the war. He died on January 16, 1892 and was buried at Dean Cemetery in Carroll County, Arkansas.

Joseph was one of those fortunate men who went off to war not only in the company of his friends, but also of his family. Four Meskimens served in Company G of the Fifth Iowa Infantry. When that regiment completed its distinguished service at the close of three years, the three eldest continued their service in the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. Only the youngest, who had enlisted as a musician, did not reenlist to continue his service with the cavalry regiment. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the Fifth Iowa Cavalry did not have a band of its own at that point in the war. James had enlisted later than the others, so he had not yet completed his three year term of enlistment. However, both Joseph and Lewis reenlisted to serve alongside James and their other comrades for the duration.

The following information provides the complete details of the family's service, as recorded in the Official Roster:

Miskimmons, James M.
Age 24. Residence Shellsburg - Nativity Ohio
Enlisted September 23, 1862 in Fifth Iowa Infantry Company G
Wounded in foot slightly September 19, 1862, Iuka, Mississippi
Transferred to Company I Fifth Iowa Cavalry Consolidated, August 8, 1864
Discharged September 30, 1864, Camp Cook, Georgia, expiration of term of service

Miskimmons, Joseph H. (Veteran)

Age 19. Residence Shellsburg - Nativity Illinois
Enlisted June 24, 1861 in Fifth Iowa Infantry Company G - Mustered July 15, 1861
Reenlisted and remustered January 5, 1864
Transferred to Company I Fifth Iowa Cavalry Consolidated, August 8, 1864
Age 21. Residence Benton County, Nativity Ohio
Transferred from Company G. Fifth Infantry, as Eighth Corporal, Aug. 8, 1864
Deserted July 21, 1865, Nashville, Tennessee

Miskimmons, Lewis (Veteran)
Age 19. Residence Shellsburg - Nativity Ohio
Enlisted June 24, 1861 in Fifth Iowa Infantry Company G, as Musician
Mustered July 15, 1861
Reenlisted and remustered January 5, 1864
Transferred to Company I Fifth Iowa Cavalry Consolidated, August 8, 1864
Age 22. Residence Benton County, Nativity Ohio
Mustered out July 20, 1865, Nashville, Tennessee

Miskimmons, William
Age 18. Residence Shellsburg - Nativity Ohio
Enlisted June 24, 1861 in Fifth Iowa Infantry Company G, as Musician
Mustered July 15, 1861
Mustered out July 30, 1864, Chattanooga, Tennessee, expiration of term of service.