Colonel Symphonious H. Boyd and Newburg Living History

In the winter of 1861-1862 Colonel Symphonious H. Boyd’s 24th Missouri Infantry regiment encamped on the future location of the rail yards in Newburg, Mo. Colonel Symphonious H. Boyd was born  May 28, 1828 in Williamson County, Tennessee near Nashville. He moved to Springfield, Mo in 1840. He was clerk of the court of Greene County, Missouri from 1854 to 1856, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1856, commencing practice in Springfield, Missouri. Boyd served as mayor of Springfield in 1856 and at the outbreak of the Civil War,raised the 24th Missouri Infantry for the Union Army, serving as its colonel from 1861 to 1863. He was elected an Unconditional Unionist to the United States House of Representatives in 1862, serving from 1863 to 1865. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business from 1863 to 1865. Boyd was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1864 to 1868, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1864, was appointed judge of the court of the fourteenth judicial district in 1865 and was involved in building and operating the Southwest Pacific Railroad from 1867 to 1874. He was elected back to the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1868, serving again from 1869 to 1871. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims from 1869 to 1871. Afterward, Boyd operated a wagon factory from 1874 to 1876, resumed practicing law and was appointed U.S. Minister and Consul General to Siam by President Benjamin Harrison in 1890, serving until 1892. He died in Springfield, Missouri on June 22, 1894 and was interred in Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield.

Colonel Boyd’s regiment lost a total of 264 men during service; 3 officers and 40 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 220 enlisted men died of disease. His regiment contained the following colonels: Colonel Sempronius Hamilton Boyd - resigned in 1863 to serve in the  U.S. House of Representatives; from Missouri;Major Eli E. Weston - commanded at the battle of Pea Ridge; Captain; William Wallace McCammon;- commanded Company E during the Chattanooga Campaign Lieutenant Vincent Chalefoux - commanded Company E at the battle of Champion Hill Lieutenant Daniel Driscoll – commanded Company E during the siege of Vicksburg