Braxton D Pollard began his military career as a private in Co D 1st NE MO Cav. He is listed as an orderly srgt on a April 1862 paylist. He is listed as captured Monroe County Nov 26, 1862 as a Captain in Porter's band. Initially sent to Gratiot, St.Louis he was transferred to fort Delaware 24 April 1863. He appears on a muster roll as enlisting Lewis Co Aug 3 1862 into Wurton Mills (D) Company 1st NE MO cav for 1 year. Listed age was 38. He was paroled April 25, 1863 and released May 4, 1863.
His statement is interesting in that it outlines his movements: His home was in Shelby County. As Captain never crossed the Missouri River hid in mostly Monroe County until Porters raid. On last day of May ('62) he was encamped on Middle Fork with 16 of his men and Capt Painter and 10 of his men. They were attacked by Caldwell's forces and he was severely wound in breast and arm. He and men made their way to Ralls county where they stayed until the day after the Florida fight when he joined Porter in "very feeble" condition. Went to Calloway with Porter and was in bed for Moore's Mill. Returned to Monroe Co with Porter, was at the gathering at Gosney's Mill. Sometimes on horseback sometimes in a wagon to Newark and then Kirksville where he was in baggage train too weak to fight. Returned with company to Ralls Co. working to keep men from plundering. He came forward and voluntarily surrendered. His Gratiot Prison interview states he was recruited and sworn in by Capt Thompson the 18th Dec 1861 for 6 months service. (This matches WH Adams info as well). The second time he was sworn was 23 July 1862 by Porter. He listed being in camp with Porter and at different times Murray. He lists as being in the skirmish near Paris.
After he was exchanged he next appears as a Pvt in Co H (new) 2nd Mo Cav enlisting Oxford MS Nov 1 1863. Surrendered by Gen Taylor and paroled at Columbus MS on May 17, 1865. Residence listed on end of war parole Monroe Co Mo.
1850 census has him married working as a wagon maker in Monroe Co MO, native of Kentucky, born abt 1825. 1860 finds him farming in Saline Twsp, Ralls County, owning one 25 y/o male slave. 1870 finds him alive and well with wife and sons back in Shelby county. In 1879 he loses a lawsuit brought by the Weed Sewing Machine Co. and his Shelby Co property held by he and his son is seized and sold on the courthouse steps by the Sheriff presumably to settle a debt or court warrant. (Shelbina Democrat. (March 12, 1879). Pollard Braxton debt.. Newspapers.com. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://www.newspapers.com/article/shelbina-democrat-pollard-braxton-debt/159713052/)
He married Elizabeth Reynolds in 28 Feb 1845 in Monroe Co MO. he dies 24 August 1882 in Clarence, Shelby Co. Buried Maplewood Cemetery, Shelby Co.
The parallels with WH Adams and John S Thompson lead me to believe Thompson was recruiting a company/band/group in and around Marion Co in Dec 1861 for 6 months service. He led this group loosely affiliated with 1st NE MO Cav until summer of 1862 when the initial enlistment period expired. Then this group becomes Pollard's company under Porter in the 1st(2nd?) NE MO cav. Pollard is wounded can't lead per se but obviously still recognized as authority send John Thompson into Paris. Rolls are reversed a second time when Thompson becomes commander of company in 2nd MO Cav under Forrest in Mississippi late 1863.
This just illustrates how successful the 1st and 2nd NE MO cav was as a unit recruited equipped and put into the field behind enemy lines. Too bad it has been ignored for so long.