★ Bailey, Joseph

Joseph Bailey​

Born: May 6, 1825

Birthplace: Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio

Father: James Bailey 1794 – 1876

Mother: Elizabeth Mann 1800 –

Wife: Mary Spaulding 1825 – 1891

(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas)​

Children:

Hattie Bailey Goss 1848 – 1906​

(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas)​

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Edward A. Bailey 1850 – 1915​

(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery Fort Scott Kansas)​

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Ellen "Ella" Bailey 1853 – 1923​

(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas)​

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Jabez W. "Jabe" Bailey 1857 – 1914​

(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas)​

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Porter Bailey 1867 – 1871​

(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas)​

Education:

Graduated from University of Illinois with a Civil Engineering Degree​

Occupation before War:

Civil Engineer and Lumberman​

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Builder of log dam on the Wisconsin River​

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Owner of land in Kilbourn, Wisconsin​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1863: Captain of Company D, 4th​ Wisconsin Infantry Regiment​

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Served under General Butler in New Orleans, Louisiana​

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Acting Chief Engineer for the city of New Orleans, Louisiana​

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1862 – 1865: Suffered from occasional rheumatism and ague​

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1863: Major of 4th​ Wisconsin Infantry Regiment​

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1863: Served as Engineer during Siege of Port Hudson​

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1863 – 1864: Lt. Colonel of 4th​ Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment​

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1864: Engineer during the Red River Campaign​

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1864: Engineer for the Building of Bailey's Dam​

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Received the thanks of congress for his role in the Red River Campaign

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1864 – 1865: Colonel of 4th​ Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment​

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1864: Commander of Engineer Brigade Department of the Gulf​

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1864: Commander of District of Baton Rogue and Port Hudson​

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1864: Appointed Brigadier General in the Union Army​

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1864: Nomination Submitted to the United States Senate expired​

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1865: Nomination Submitted to the United States Senate​

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1865: Resigned from the Union Army before senate Nomination​

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1865: Resigned from the Union Army on July 7th​​

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1866: Confirmed as Brigadier General after his resignation​

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1867: Brevetted Major General Posthumously​

Occupation after War:

1866 – 1867: Sheriff of Vernon County, Missouri​

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1867: Shot and Killed by Lewis and Perry Pixley​

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1867: His Killers were never brought to justice​

Died: March 21, 1867

Place of Death: Near Nevada, Missouri

Cause of Death: Gun Shot Wound to the head

Age at time of Death: 41 years old

Burial Place: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas

 

[Pete Longstreet]

Brig. General Bailey was the one guy who probably saved General Bank's army and Admiral Porter's flotilla during the Red River Campaign. They were "sitting ducks", with Taylor's men on their heels. Thanks to Bailey's Dam, both of these outfits were spared to fight another day. Very impressive. Happy birthday General Bailey!

 

[Pollaco]

He served as Sheriff in Missouri after the war. He was killed on March 21, 1867 while serving in that position.

 

[Pollaco]

Only 14 men received the Thanks of Congress. Bailey was one of those few. He received this honor for his Dam on the Red River.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday (Friday) Brig. General Joseph Bailey! Salutes remembering General Bailey on his birthday week.

 

[ErnieMac]

A 27 November 1903 article from the Nevada (MO) Weekly Post about Bailey's murder. Bailey's murders were known, but never held accountable for their action.

 

[ErnieMac]

More details about the escape of the Pixley brothers and the lynching of Tom Ingram from the 12 April 1867 edition (about three weeks after Bailey's death) of the Warrensburg (MO) Standard.

 

[Pollaco]

Thank you Ernie Mac for the accompanying newspaper articles.i had always assumed Bailey was killed by an unknown assassin(s). I am puzzled as to why the authorities made little or no effort to arrest the Pixleys. Granted they did flee the country but did return. I don't think there was a Statute of Limitations on murder back then.

 

[ErnieMac]

Article about Joseph Bailey's funeral from the 6 April 1867 Leavenworth (KS) Daily Commercial.

 

[bayouace]

Bailey's Dam was, in my opinion, the engineering feat of the war. When Port Hudson surrendered, Bailey was engineering a tunnel under the PH earthworks to blow up an access for a Union assault. Bailey was brilliant. I did not know of his death facts until today. Thanks.