John W. Summers in the Mexican War

Submitted by Dale R. Summers

John W. taught two terms of school at Harts (Sandy precinct). During one of these terms the Mexican war broke out. He left his school and went forth at his country's call, a volunteer, and served faithfully through the struggle. He received an honorable discharge (which is still preserved as a memento by the family) came back and finished teaching his term of school.

This report is compiled from military records found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmaga/scott/1903militaryhist.html

After the close of the Black Hawk war the country had peace until the war with Mexico came on in the spring of 1846. On May 11 of that year Congress passed an act declaring that a state of war existed between that government and the United States. Ten millions of dollars were appropriated to carry on the war, and the president was authorized to accept fifty thousand volunteers. Illinois furnished more than were asked of it, and many were refused the opportunity who desired to enter the service. Scott county furnished one company. As originally organized it was composed as follows: Sam Montgomery, Capt.; Bryan R. Houghton, 1st Lieut.; Benjamin Harris, 2d Lieut.; Hezekiah Evans, Sr., 3d Lieut., Thomas H. Flynn, Orderly, and about eighty privates. They went to the seat of war under Col. John J. Hardin, and served one year. They were in many skirmishes, and their service culminated in the hard fought battle of Buena Vista in 1847, in which battle the company lost six killed and seven wounded; among the killed was Lieut. Bryan R. Houghton; and Lieut. Harris having been previously discharged, Lieut. Evans became 1st Lieutenant, and Flynn, who had become third by the discharge of Lieut. Harris, became 2d Lieutenant, and Thomas R. Roberts 3d; thus organized, the company returned to their homes in the summer of 1847, with certificates of honorable discharge, reduced, however, by the casualties of the service to about one-half their original number.

The roll of this company, as recorded in the War Office is not correct. It does not give the name of Lieut. Bryan R. Houghton, nor the name of private, James Evans, who was commonly called "Black Jim Evans," on account of his dark complexion. There were four of the Evans family in this company, to-wit: First Lieut., Hezekiah Evans, and privates James J. Evans, Jackson Evans and James Evans ("Black Jim"). The only member of the company now living in Scott county is Luther Christison, who resides about two miles south of Winchester. The company was lettered "H" and belonged to the first regiment, commanded by Col. John J. Hardin till he was killed at Buena Vista on February 23, 1847, and then by Lieut. Col. William Weatherford. The remains of Lieutenant Houghton were brought home and buried by the survivors of his company, with the honors of war, in the old cemetery, on the ridge, in the southern portion of Winchester, and it is no credit to Scott county that his last earthly resting place is still unmarked. That the officers and men of this regiment rendered gallant service is well attested by all historical accounts of their conduct. The incorrect roll of the Scott county company-company H-as copied from the records of the war office is as follows: