Thompson Smelser

Mustered into service as a Private on February 8th, 1864

Died 03 August 1896

Private Smelser received a gunshot wound to the left ankle at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5th, 1864. In the fall of that year he was transferred to Company E of the 20th Indiana Infantry where he served until his muster out on July 12th, 1865.

 

He filed for a pension in January of 1883.

 

Thompson spent many years after the war living in Pulaski County Indiana. In the summer of 1896 he moved to Cedar County Missouri with two brothers named Bell. On July the 25th Thompson became very sick and passed away on August 3rd. One of the Bell brothers buried Thompson and took all his papers including his pension voucher. They skipped town and started to draw his pension money.

What became of the Bell brothers is not known. It is very possible that Thompson Smelser is still buried in Cedar County Missouri in a unmarked grave.