Reporting THE Death Of KIA Captain Bassett

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John McAllister Schofield (1831-1906), By permission of the war department, he accepted the commission of major of the 1st Mo. volunteers on April 26, and on May 14 he received the rank of captain in the 1st artillery of the regular army, remaining, however, with the Missouri troops. His commission of brigadier-general in the U. S. army was dated from the battle of Franklin, and on March 13, 1865, he also received the rank of brevet major-general, U. S. A., for "gallant and meritorious services" in the same battle. Gen. Schofield then operated with Gen. Sherman in the final campaign against Gen. Johnston, and after the surrender he remained in command of the Department of North Carolina until June 21.Document Signed “J.M. Schofield” on the reverse of a letter with endorsement, “Dept. of North Carolina, Raleigh NC., May 27, 1865. Reply forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army”. The letter itself is written by Chas. L. Upham, Col. Cmdg. Regt., to Lt. Col. S.A. Campbell, datelined Heads Quarters 15th Conn. Vols Infy., Kinston NC., May 25, 1865, In large part “I have the honor to report the death of Captain Julius Julius Bassett ... who was killed in action near Kinston NC., March 8, 1865.” The letter is fine and tipped to large album sheet, old school style.At dawn the 42nd attacked the flank of Scofield's Division and in a skirmish that took place at Kinston, Capt. Julius Bassett of Connecticutt was killed. The Captain, who was buried by the rebels, was wearing a long red and white scarf and a handsome sword engraved with his name. These items Capt. Carter claimed only after his men had insisted that he possess them-removing his own sash and draping it over the body of the deceased Captain Bassett in a gesture of respect. He marked the grave with his own sword.

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