William E. ~ Born 1834 in Tennessee. Married Sarah A.
Williams on 11 Jan. 1855 in Crawford County, Missouri.
John R. ~ Born 1836 in Tennessee. Married Jane ??.
John R. died 22 March 1904.
Julia A. ~ Born 1839 in Tennessee. Married Richard
D. Gregory 25 July 1867 in Washington County, Missouri.
Larkin M. ~ Born 1840 in Tennessee. Married Nancy
Pane 17 July 1862 in Crawford County, Missouri.
Samuel Calvin ~ Born 8 Feb. 1839? in Jackson County,
Tennessee. Married Martha Ann Veach 6 June 1861 in Palmer, Washington County, Missouri.
Samuel died 7 Aug. 1923 & is buried in the Steelville Cemetery, Crawford
County, Missouri. For mention of Samuel's military service see article "Victory at
Vicksburg" on this page.
T.B. ~ Born 1843 in Tennessee. No other info
available.
Brad Sloan ~ Brad is the gr. gr. grandfather of Esther.
M. Ziock Carroll. Brad was born 4 March 1845 in Dade County, Missouri. Married
Jane Hawkins (who is said to be part Indian) 1865 in
Washington County, Missouri. In 1874 in Washinton County, Missouri Brad was
convicted of gambling & disturbing the peace. About 1876 Brad and Jane divorced
and Brad went to Tennessee for a few years, then to Kentucky and eventually settled in
McLeansboro, Hamilton County, Illinois. Here he remarried three more times to Sarah
Whitaker then Almeda Gordon & then Jenny Spengler. Brad died 18 Oct. 1929 &
is buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in McLeansboro, Hamilton County, Illinois. For
information on Brad's military service see articles below.
Children of Jane Hawkins & Brad Dicus are:
Mary Elizabeth ~ Born 1867 in Missouri. Married
Thomas Coke Wright 19 Dec. 1886 at Davisville, Crawford County, Missouri. Died circa
1897 & believed to be buried at Lost Creek Cemetery, Washington County, Missouri.
Margie Frances ~ Margie is the gr. grandmother of Esther
M. Ziock Carroll. Margie was born 14 Dec. 1868 in Washington County, Missouri.
She was first married to Jesse F. Henslee & had one child by him who they named
Chloe. She next married her step-brother, James M. Martin
on 5 March 1892 a marriage that laste over 50 years. After James' death Margie was
married a third time in southern Missouri but do not know the name of the man she
married. They later divorced & she resumed the Martin name. Margie died 16
Nov. 1955 in Potosi & is buried in the New Masonic Cemetery, Potosi, Washington
County, Missouri. There is no tombstone marking her grave but it is located on the
east edge of the cemetery almost half way up the hill.
Thomas H. ~ Believed to have been born 1869 & died
1869-70.
Martha Alice ~ Born March 1870 & was married to Alvin
Stotler who was 1/2 brother to William Rhodes.
Eveline ~ was born 16 March 1873 in Brazil, Washington
County, Missouri & married 1881 to William Rhodes who was 1/2 brother to Alvin
Stotler. Evaline & William had four children: Haskel, Ernest, Henry, & Sadie
L. who was born 19 Feb. 1898. She was married to a man by the last name of
Nethington. Sadie died 15 Apr. 1981 in Chico, California. Evaline died 17 June 1959 in
Iron County, Missouri & is buried in New Masonic Cemetery, Potosi, Washington County,
Missouri.
Sarah ~ was married to a Dr. ?Rueben? Vaughn. No
other info available.
Children of Sarah Whitaker & Brad Dicus are:
William Paul ~ Born 11 Dec. 1884 in McLeansboro, Hamilton
County, Illinois. Was a U.S. Navy Seaman. Was married to Florence O'Sullivan.
William died 11 Nov. 1927 & is buried in I.O.O.F. Cemetery McLeansboro,
Hamilton County, Illinois.
Hugh L. ~ Was born 20 March 1846 in Crawford County,
Missouri. Married Mary E. Staples on 21 July 1865 in Webster (later called Palmer)
Washington County, Missouri. Hugh died 23 March 1920 in Festus, Jefferson County,
Missouri & is buried in Shirley Cemetery, Washington County, Missouri. Hugh served as
a private in Co. E, 50th Missouri Infantry during the Civil War so there is the
possibility that he helped to defend the Washington County, Mo. courthouse when Gen.
Sterling Price's Confederate troops invaded Washington County & captured Potosi in
1864. To read detailed account of "The Battle of Potosi" click here.
Riley Mack ~ Born March 1850 in Missouri. He
married L. Martin on 29 Feb. 1872 in Washington County, Missouri.
Mary E. ~ Born 1853. No other info available.
Marvin Putman ~ Born 15 Apr. 1856 in Westover, Crawford
County, Missouri. Married Oma E. Nipper 28 Aug. 1881 in Washington County, Missouri.
Marvin died 21 Apr. 1939.
DICUS DESCENDANT RECEIVES MEMBERSHIP IN
CIVIL WAR ORGANIZATIONS
(Published in the Independent Journal 21 Sept. 1989)
PVT. BRAD DICUS
(Published July 1990 in the book
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War)
The following is a combination of the above named articles:
Researched & Written By:
Esther M. Ziock Carroll
Washington County resident, Esther M.
Ziock Carroll, recently (Sept. 1989) received membership in the Civil War organizations of
The Daughters of Union Veterans, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and Auxilliary
to Sons of Union Veterans. Immediately after the initiation ceremonies for the LGAR
Mrs. Carroll was elected vice president.
To be eligible for membership a person must prove lineal or collateral
descendency from a Civil War ancestor who served with the Union Army. Mrs. Carroll
met these requirements through direct descent from Brad S. Dicus her
great great grandfather.
Bradford "Bradley" S. Dycus was born March 4, 1845 in Dade
County, Missouri. He was the son of Celila Sloan and
John Dicus and was the seventh of eleven children. The family had come from Jackson
County, Tennessee to Missouri circa 1844.
In 1862, at the age of seventeen, Brad enlisted at Steelville,
Misssouri as a private with Co. F, Regiment 36 which subsequently became the 32nd
regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He served for a term of three years. He
mustered into service October 18th, 1862 at Benton Barracks, St.
Louis, Missouri. During Brad's term of service the 32nd regiment participated in the
following events:
Moved to Helena, Ark. - Dec. 1862; Sherman's Yazoo Expedition - Dec.
22, 1862 to Jan. 3, 1863; Chickasaw Bayou - Dec. 26-28; Chickasaw Bluff - Dec.
29; Expedition to Arkansas Post, Ark. - Jan. 3-10, 1863; Assault & capture
of Ft. Hindman, Arkansas Post - Jan. 10-11; Moved to Young's Point, La. - Jan. 17-23
& duty there till March; At Milliken's Bend, La. till April. Expedition
to Greenville, Black Bayou & Deer Creek - April 2-14; Demonstrations against
Haines & Drumgould's Bluffs - April 29 - May 2; Moved to join army in rear of
Vicksburg, Miss. - May 2-14; Mississippi Springs - May 12; Jackson, Miss. -
May 14; Siege of Vicksburg - May 18 - July 4; Assaults on Vicksburg -
May 19 & 22; Advance on Jackson, Miss. - July 4-10; Siege of Jackson -
July 10-17; Bolton's Depot - July 16; Briar Creek near Clinton July 17;
Clinton - July 18; At Big Black till Sept. 27; Moved to Memphis, Tenn.
thence march to Chattanooga, Tenn. - Sept. 27-Nov. 21; Operations on Memphis &
Charleston Railroad in Alabama - October 20-29; Cherokee Station - Oct. 21 &
29; Cane Creek - Oct 26; Tuscumbia - Oct. 26-27; Chattanooga-Ringgold
Campaign - Nov. 23-27; Battles of Lookout Mountain - Nov. 23-24; Mission
Ridge - Nov. 25; Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge - Nov. 27; Garrison duty in
Alabama till May 1864; Atlanta, Georgia Campaign - May 1-Sept. 8;
Demonstration on Resaca - May 8-13; Battle of Resaca - May, 13-15; Advance on
Dallas - May 18-25; Battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, & Allatoona Hills -
May 25-June5; Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain - June,
10-July 2; Bushy Mountain - June, 15-17; Assault on Kenesaw - June, 27;
Nickajack Creek - July 2-5; Chattahoochie River - July 6-17; Battle of Atlanta
- July, 22; Siege of Atlanta - July 22-Aug. 25; Ezra Chapel, Hood's 2nd Sortie
- July 28; Flank movement on Jonesboro - Aug., 25-30; Battle of Jonesboro -
Aug., 31-Sept. 1; Lovejoy Station - Sept. 2-6; Operations against Hood in
North Georgia & North Alabama - Sept. 29-Nov., 3; Ship's Gap, Taylor's Ridge -
Oct., 16; Consolidated to a Battalion of three companies - Nov., 11, 1864 &
consolidated with three companies 31st Missouri Infantry as Consolidated Battalion, 31st
& 32nd Missouri Infantry. March to the Sea - Nov. 15-Dec., 10; Clinton -
Nov. 23; Statesboro - Dec. 4; Ogeechee River - Dec., 7-9; Siege of
Savannah - Dec., 10-21; Campaign of the Carolinas - Jan. to April, 1865;
Reconnisance to Salkehatchie River - Jan., 25; Hickory Hill - Feb., 1; North
Edisto River - Feb., 12-13; Columbia - Feb., 15-17; Lynch's Creek - Feb.,
25-26; Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina - March, 20-21; Occupation of
Goldsboro - March, 24; Advance on Raleigh - April, 10-14; Occupation of
Raleigh, march to Washingotn, D.C. via Richmond, Virginia - April, 29-May, 20; Grand
Review - May, 24; moved to Louisville, Kentucky - June; Redesignated 32nd
Regiment Missouri Infantry - June, 20; Mustered out - July 18, 1865.
In July & August of 1863 Brad was assigned daily or extra safe guard
duty at a citizens dwelling by order of the Brigade Commander.
During his tour of duty Brad contracted a chronic illness at Young's
Point, Mississippi from bad food and water and continued colds and exposure for which he
was repeatedly treated by regimental surgeons.
On Sherman's March to the Sea in September 1864 while tearing up
railroad track in Georgia he ruptured the veins in his right leg severely enough to make
it necessary for him to ride in the ambulance. Brad mustered out of service in
Louisville, Kentucky on July 18, 1865.
After his release from the military Brad returned home to Webster
(later called Palmer) Washington County, Missouri. Here he married Sarah Jane
Hawkins. They eventually had six children: Mary Elizabeth who married Thomas Coke
Wright; Margie Frances who was first married to Jesse F. Hensley & second to James
Marion Martin; Thomas H.; Martha Alice who was married to
Alvin Stotler; Evaline who married William Rhodes;
Sarah was married to Dr. ?Rueben? Vaughn. About 1876 Brad and Jane divorced
and Brad went to Tennessee for a few years, then to Kentucky and eventually settled in
McLeansboro, Hamilton County, Illinois. Here he remarried three more times and had
another son, William Paul Dicus. William's wife was Florence O'Sullivan.
Extracted from the McLeansboro Times:
"Brad was known as "Doc" Dycus from his
occupation as a veterinarian and was considered one of McLeansboro's most interesting
characters. He possessed a cheerful disposition, was friendly with everyone, and
was especially fond of children. He also served as City Marshall of McLeansboro for 25
years, was very proud of the job and had a reputation as a very capable and fearless
officer. A large picture of him in the uniform of Marshall hung on the wall in the
front room of his home. (Boy, would I like to have a copy of this picture!!)
There was a porch swing on the front porch of his home and he would sit
there every afternoon singing funny songs and people would pass and call out, "Hi,
Doc! How are you today?" And he would answer, "I'm fine as frog's
hair and that's as fine as silk" and then he would say, "Come in and stay till
Chooseday." When asked "who was that?" he would say, "Law, I
don't know." He was always happy and cheerful."
Brad was always known for his horse trading and he always had a horse
in the races at the county fairs and always marched in the Memorial Day parades wearing
his G.A.R. uniform. Brad was 5ft. 8in. tall, had a fair complexion blue eyes and
black hair. At some point in his life he suffered a gunshot wound to the right
shoulder. This does not appear to be the result of his military service so it is
assumed it occurred during his occupation as marshall. He also had an artificial
nose as a result of cancer.
On October 18, 1929, following an illness of about two weeks, Brad
Dycus responded to the final roll call of the Great Commander and quietly passed away at
his home. He was laid to rest in the I.O.O.F Cemetery, McLeansboro.
VICTORY AT VICKSBURG
Researched & Written By: Esther M. Ziock Carroll
(Published in the Independent Journal 9 July 1998)
From the beginning of the Civil War in
1861 Confederates had erected fortifications at strategic points along the Mississippi
River. However, Federal forces fought their way southward from Illinois and
northward from the Gulf of Mexico capturing post after post. By the summer of 1862
Union forces had gained control of the river, exept for a 100-mile stretch between
Vicksburg, Mississippi and Port Hudson, Louisiana. Control of this stretch of the
river was of vital importance to the Federal Government. Command of this waterway
would allow uninterrupted passage of Union troops and supplies into the South as well as
cutting off the Confederacy from the states of Texas, Arkansas and most of Louisiana.
Vicksburg was of strategic importance being situated on a high bluff
overlooking a bend in the river. It was protected by artillery batteries along the
riverfront and by a maze of swamps and bayous to the north and south and had defied Union
efforts to force it into submission. In October, 1862, Ulysses S. Grant was charged
with clearing the Mississippi River of Confederate resistance. Among his Corps
commanders was Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman who was in charge of the 15th corps.
Included in the 15th corps were the 31st and 32nd regiments, Missouri Volunteer Infantry,
which contained men from Washington County, Missouri and the surrounding area. Pvt.
Brad Dicus of Washington County and great great grandfather of Esther M. Carroll was with
Co. F, 32nd regiment. Brad's brother, Samuel C. Dicus, was with Co. B, 31st
regiment. Both regiments participated in the preliminary battles and siege
activities of Vicksburg. In one of these battles, the battle of Chickasaw Bayou,
Samuel Dicus (who had only been in the service four months) was severely wounded four days
after Christmas (1862) and was eventually sent to a hospital in St. Louis.
During the winter of 1862-63 numerous bayou expeditions were aimed at
Vicksburg, all of which failed. In March, 1863 at Young's Point Brad (who had only
been in the service five months) contracted a chronic illness from bad food and water and
continued colds and exposure for which he was repeatedly treated by regimental surgeons.
Despite the hardships, however, Brad was able to continue to do his duty. The
Union Army of approximately 45,000 men, one of whom was eighteen year old Brad Dicus,
marched down the Louisiana side of the river crossing well blow Vicksburg and prepared to
attack the city from the south. Over the coming months numerous battles ensued and
Jackson the capitol of Mississippi was captured. The Federal army then swung
westward towards Vicksburg driving the approximately 31,000 Confederates back into the
Vicksburg fortifications.
The first Union assault on Vicksburg occurred May 19th and the second
assault May 22nd. Both failed. Grant then reluctantly decided to initiate
formal siege operations. Federal troops entrenched themselves around Vicksburg and
the city was cut off from the world. Over the weeks Union reinforcements arrived
increasing the troops to approximately 
75,000. The Yankees continued to tighten
their grip on the city. Relentlessly day and night for more than a month Union guns
pounded the city from the land side while gunboats blasted the city from the river.
Many terrified Vicksburg citizens and slaves took refuge in caves which had been dug into
the hillsides. Confederate soldiers and civilians alike suffered increasingly from
hunger and disease. Many resorted to eating mules, horses, dogs and even rats.
Finally, seeing there was no hope of relilef Vicksburg officially
surrendered at 10:00 A.M. July 4th, 1863. As the stars and stripes was raised above
the Vicksburg courthouse some Union soldiers celebrated their "Victory at
Vicksburg" but others were sad for their courageous countrymen who had been defeated
and humbled. And, because of Vicksburg's defeat on this date, it would be another 81
years before the city would once again celebrate the 4th of July.
The capture of Vicksburg was a very significant turning point in the
Civil War and Washington Countians helped achieve that goal. Along with the
surrender of Port Hudson five days later, it gave the Union control of all the Mississippi
and cut the Confederacy in two. For the first time since the war began, the
Mississippi was finally free of Confederate fortifications. But the war still
continued and there were many more battles to be fought and hardships to be endured and
inflicted before the war was officially won.
ANECDOTE: When Gene and I went to Mississippi we rolled into
Vicksburg around midnight and checked into a motel at the edge of Vicksburg National
Military Park. As tired as we were, though,we were also very hungry and did not want
to go to sleep until we got something to eat. Fortunatelly there was a small 24 hour
restaurant nearby (who perhaps should remain anonymous since they are a well-known chain
throughout the United States especially in the south). We sat at a booth and were
barely able to stay awake while waiting for our food. Suddenly I thought I saw
something dart out from the wall, run across the table and disappear under a small, metal
ashtray in the center. 
Thinking that maybe I had hallucinated from fatigue I asked Gene, "Did
something just run under that ashtray?" Gene wasn't sure either so he
cautiously lifted the edge of the ashtray. Yep, it was a cockroach all right!
The "rebel roach" immediately initiated "evasive maneuvers" and Gene
kept slamming that ashtray down all over the table as the roach darted about but missed
him every time! He finally "retreated" over the edge of the table and
successfully escaped from the "attacking yankees." The "cockroach
commotion" must have presented a rather comical appearance as another customer who
was sitting at the counter nearly fell off his chair laughing! The next day as we were
pulling into the small parking lot behind the Vicksburg Visitor Center another car pulled
in simultaneously from the opposite side and we almost collided. It turned out thery
were from Florissant (St. Louis). Everywhere we go we seem to "run into"
somebody from Missouri! At right is Esther M. Carroll at Vicksburg National Military Park at
the area of Sherman's Headquarters. Photographed March, 1989.
SHERMAN, MISSOURI
I also have connections to Gen. Sherman besides my
great great grandfather serving under him during the Civil War. My step-father lived
for many, many years in Gen. Sherman's big, beautiful old
house which is located at the town of Sherman on the Meramec River in St. Louis
County, Missouri.
RE-DEDICATION
CONDUCTED AT GEN. SHERMAN'S GRAVE