January 2025 Cover Image: Missouri Veterans

Our cover image for January 2025 features a reunion of veterans from Fillmore, Missouri, circa 1890. The photo hangs in the Andrew County Museum in Savannah, Missouri, and comes to us from ECW contributor Tonya McQuade. Tonya recently spoke at the museum about her recent book, A State Divided (read more about her book here).

Tonya’s book features the Civil War correspondence of her great-great-great grandfather, James Callaway Hale, and his friend, Benjamin Petree (Tonya’s great grand uncle). Petree was the brother of Tonya’s great-great grandfather, Bailis Petree, who married Hale’s daughter, Mary Ann. While visiting the museum, Tonya learned that Petree is the bearded fellow in the photo who is kneeling in front on the left side.

Take a few minutes and look closely at these men, sporting their Grand Army of the Republic badges and with President Grant looking over them in the background. Note the fellow in the back, showing off his flute. See the fellow at the end with the unusual eyepatch. Look at the man sitting in front of him, missing a right arm, with a dog in his lap. Beside him, you’ll see the lone USCT member in the photo.

The photo includes countless details that suggest untold and unknown stories. That’s why books like Tonya’s are so important: they begin to uncover the lives and stories of men who might otherwise be forgotten.

Look at photos of any similar group of veterans and you’ll see the same array of fascinating detail, the same array of stories.