Joseph C. Kent
Residence was not listed; 21 years old.
Enlisted on 8/30/1862 at Buffalo, NY as a Private.
On 8/30/1862 he mustered into "M" Co. NY 11th Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 6/12/1865 at Memphis, TN
1844-1937
---------------
"Abe Lincoln's Messenger Boy," East Aurora Civil War Vet, Dies
Joseph C. Kent, who served as dispatch runner for President, succumbs at 93
Joseph C. Kent, Civil War veteran widely known as "Abe Lincoln's messenger boy." died last night at his home, 22 North Grove Street, East Aurora, after an illness of several months. He was 93 years old. As a sixteen-year-old rookie in the Eleventh New York Cavalry, Mr. Kent was credited with repeatedly making hazardous dashes from the White House to the battlefront to carry confidential messages from President Lincoln to commanding generals in the field. Mr. Kent was born in the Village of Holland, February 19, 1844. His parents trekked overland from Corinth, Vt., to make their home in Western New York in 1811.
Gets Assignment
On August 30, 1862, Mr. Kent enlisted In the army and was sent to Washington, along with other recruits, to receive training for front line duty. Shortly after, Mr. Lincoln visited the barracks to select a personal dispatch runner and Private Kent was nominated for the assignment. After looking over the stripling, the President is reported to have sent a note to the commandant reading: "I want a man, not a boy." "If this boy can't get through," the commandant replied, "no man can." Kent got the job. For months thereafter, Mr. Kent rode his horse, Ned, over 80 miles of treacherous firing lines two or three times a week. The messages he bore were written in code and rolled into compact "spitballs." At the first sign of enemies, the boy-runner was under orders to pop the wad In his mouth and swallow it. "Ned would listen as we jogged along," Mr. Kent once said in describing his trips, "and If the Rebels were coming he'd stop and shake his head. But if he couldn't smell an enemy, he'd keep right on jogging."
Was at Gettysburg
Mr. Kent was an eyewitness of Pickett's historic charge at Gettysburg, but during three years of active service he suffered only a minor scalp wound. In the late stages of the war, he was transferred by his own request to his old regiment stationed at New Orleans and remained there until the cessation of hostilities. A lifelong Republican, Mr. Kent was noted in East Aurora for always voting a straight party ticket. He drove his own automobile until he was nearly 90 years old and prior to his last illness was seen taking daily walks around the village. Mr. Kent's death reduces the roster of Author Smith Post, G. A.R.,to three. During a long membership, he held many offices. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Mandane Perry, with whom he lived and who is 97 years old, and one son. Frank E. Kent, of Rochester. Funeral services will be held in East Aurora at a time to be announced later.
Buffalo New York Courier Express, Dec 14, 1937
Residence was not listed; 21 years old.
Enlisted on 8/30/1862 at Buffalo, NY as a Private.
On 8/30/1862 he mustered into "M" Co. NY 11th Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 6/12/1865 at Memphis, TN
1844-1937
---------------
"Abe Lincoln's Messenger Boy," East Aurora Civil War Vet, Dies
Joseph C. Kent, who served as dispatch runner for President, succumbs at 93
Joseph C. Kent, Civil War veteran widely known as "Abe Lincoln's messenger boy." died last night at his home, 22 North Grove Street, East Aurora, after an illness of several months. He was 93 years old. As a sixteen-year-old rookie in the Eleventh New York Cavalry, Mr. Kent was credited with repeatedly making hazardous dashes from the White House to the battlefront to carry confidential messages from President Lincoln to commanding generals in the field. Mr. Kent was born in the Village of Holland, February 19, 1844. His parents trekked overland from Corinth, Vt., to make their home in Western New York in 1811.
Gets Assignment
On August 30, 1862, Mr. Kent enlisted In the army and was sent to Washington, along with other recruits, to receive training for front line duty. Shortly after, Mr. Lincoln visited the barracks to select a personal dispatch runner and Private Kent was nominated for the assignment. After looking over the stripling, the President is reported to have sent a note to the commandant reading: "I want a man, not a boy." "If this boy can't get through," the commandant replied, "no man can." Kent got the job. For months thereafter, Mr. Kent rode his horse, Ned, over 80 miles of treacherous firing lines two or three times a week. The messages he bore were written in code and rolled into compact "spitballs." At the first sign of enemies, the boy-runner was under orders to pop the wad In his mouth and swallow it. "Ned would listen as we jogged along," Mr. Kent once said in describing his trips, "and If the Rebels were coming he'd stop and shake his head. But if he couldn't smell an enemy, he'd keep right on jogging."
Was at Gettysburg
Mr. Kent was an eyewitness of Pickett's historic charge at Gettysburg, but during three years of active service he suffered only a minor scalp wound. In the late stages of the war, he was transferred by his own request to his old regiment stationed at New Orleans and remained there until the cessation of hostilities. A lifelong Republican, Mr. Kent was noted in East Aurora for always voting a straight party ticket. He drove his own automobile until he was nearly 90 years old and prior to his last illness was seen taking daily walks around the village. Mr. Kent's death reduces the roster of Author Smith Post, G. A.R.,to three. During a long membership, he held many offices. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Mandane Perry, with whom he lived and who is 97 years old, and one son. Frank E. Kent, of Rochester. Funeral services will be held in East Aurora at a time to be announced later.
Buffalo New York Courier Express, Dec 14, 1937
Joseph C. Kent
Residence was not listed; 21 years old.
Enlisted on 8/30/1862 at Buffalo, NY as a Private.
On 8/30/1862 he mustered into "M" Co. NY 11th Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 6/12/1865 at Memphis, TN
1844-1937
---------------
"Abe Lincoln's Messenger Boy," East Aurora Civil War Vet, Dies
Joseph C. Kent, who served as dispatch runner for President, succumbs at 93
Joseph C. Kent, Civil War veteran widely known as "Abe Lincoln's messenger boy." died last night at his home, 22 North Grove Street, East Aurora, after an illness of several months. He was 93 years old. As a sixteen-year-old rookie in the Eleventh New York Cavalry, Mr. Kent was credited with repeatedly making hazardous dashes from the White House to the battlefront to carry confidential messages from President Lincoln to commanding generals in the field. Mr. Kent was born in the Village of Holland, February 19, 1844. His parents trekked overland from Corinth, Vt., to make their home in Western New York in 1811.
Gets Assignment
On August 30, 1862, Mr. Kent enlisted In the army and was sent to Washington, along with other recruits, to receive training for front line duty. Shortly after, Mr. Lincoln visited the barracks to select a personal dispatch runner and Private Kent was nominated for the assignment. After looking over the stripling, the President is reported to have sent a note to the commandant reading: "I want a man, not a boy." "If this boy can't get through," the commandant replied, "no man can." Kent got the job. For months thereafter, Mr. Kent rode his horse, Ned, over 80 miles of treacherous firing lines two or three times a week. The messages he bore were written in code and rolled into compact "spitballs." At the first sign of enemies, the boy-runner was under orders to pop the wad In his mouth and swallow it. "Ned would listen as we jogged along," Mr. Kent once said in describing his trips, "and If the Rebels were coming he'd stop and shake his head. But if he couldn't smell an enemy, he'd keep right on jogging."
Was at Gettysburg
Mr. Kent was an eyewitness of Pickett's historic charge at Gettysburg, but during three years of active service he suffered only a minor scalp wound. In the late stages of the war, he was transferred by his own request to his old regiment stationed at New Orleans and remained there until the cessation of hostilities. A lifelong Republican, Mr. Kent was noted in East Aurora for always voting a straight party ticket. He drove his own automobile until he was nearly 90 years old and prior to his last illness was seen taking daily walks around the village. Mr. Kent's death reduces the roster of Author Smith Post, G. A.R.,to three. During a long membership, he held many offices. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Mandane Perry, with whom he lived and who is 97 years old, and one son. Frank E. Kent, of Rochester. Funeral services will be held in East Aurora at a time to be announced later.
Buffalo New York Courier Express, Dec 14, 1937
Residence was not listed; 21 years old.
Enlisted on 8/30/1862 at Buffalo, NY as a Private.
On 8/30/1862 he mustered into "M" Co. NY 11th Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 6/12/1865 at Memphis, TN
1844-1937
---------------
"Abe Lincoln's Messenger Boy," East Aurora Civil War Vet, Dies
Joseph C. Kent, who served as dispatch runner for President, succumbs at 93
Joseph C. Kent, Civil War veteran widely known as "Abe Lincoln's messenger boy." died last night at his home, 22 North Grove Street, East Aurora, after an illness of several months. He was 93 years old. As a sixteen-year-old rookie in the Eleventh New York Cavalry, Mr. Kent was credited with repeatedly making hazardous dashes from the White House to the battlefront to carry confidential messages from President Lincoln to commanding generals in the field. Mr. Kent was born in the Village of Holland, February 19, 1844. His parents trekked overland from Corinth, Vt., to make their home in Western New York in 1811.
Gets Assignment
On August 30, 1862, Mr. Kent enlisted In the army and was sent to Washington, along with other recruits, to receive training for front line duty. Shortly after, Mr. Lincoln visited the barracks to select a personal dispatch runner and Private Kent was nominated for the assignment. After looking over the stripling, the President is reported to have sent a note to the commandant reading: "I want a man, not a boy." "If this boy can't get through," the commandant replied, "no man can." Kent got the job. For months thereafter, Mr. Kent rode his horse, Ned, over 80 miles of treacherous firing lines two or three times a week. The messages he bore were written in code and rolled into compact "spitballs." At the first sign of enemies, the boy-runner was under orders to pop the wad In his mouth and swallow it. "Ned would listen as we jogged along," Mr. Kent once said in describing his trips, "and If the Rebels were coming he'd stop and shake his head. But if he couldn't smell an enemy, he'd keep right on jogging."
Was at Gettysburg
Mr. Kent was an eyewitness of Pickett's historic charge at Gettysburg, but during three years of active service he suffered only a minor scalp wound. In the late stages of the war, he was transferred by his own request to his old regiment stationed at New Orleans and remained there until the cessation of hostilities. A lifelong Republican, Mr. Kent was noted in East Aurora for always voting a straight party ticket. He drove his own automobile until he was nearly 90 years old and prior to his last illness was seen taking daily walks around the village. Mr. Kent's death reduces the roster of Author Smith Post, G. A.R.,to three. During a long membership, he held many offices. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Mandane Perry, with whom he lived and who is 97 years old, and one son. Frank E. Kent, of Rochester. Funeral services will be held in East Aurora at a time to be announced later.
Buffalo New York Courier Express, Dec 14, 1937
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